Better Me with BodyByBree
Better Me with BodyByBree
Holiday Parties Without the Guilt: How to Enjoy Yourself and Stick to Your Goals
Struggling with holiday party temptations? Discover how a few mindful choices can empower you to enjoy festive treats guilt-free while maintaining your health and fitness goals. Join me as I tackle the common anxieties of holiday indulgence, offering a fresh perspective that ditches the all-or-nothing mindset. This episode is packed with practical tips for staying on track, like planning ahead with a protein-rich snack or prioritizing indulgences that truly matter. It's all about balance and consistency, ensuring you savor the season without compromising your progress.
Want more? Find and follow Bree on
www.bodybybree.com
Instagram
Pinterest
YouTube
Blog
Are you looking for a space where you will learn to improve your mental strength, emotional health and heal your insecurities from the inside out? Take the first step to living a more meaningful life with the Better Me with Body by Brie podcast. I'm your host, brie. I'm a certified personal trainer, entrepreneur and mother of three. I've helped empower thousands of women to take action through fitness, nutrition, meditation, personal development and aligning thoughts with action. This podcast is for those who are ready to feel inspired and motivated to live a more purposeful life. Let's grow together. Hey everyone, welcome back to the Body by Brie podcast.
Speaker 1:I'm Brie and today we're diving into one of the most requested topics for this time of year how to enjoy holiday parties without completely derailing your health and fitness goals and, more importantly, how to do it without feeling guilty. The holidays are meant to be fun, right Parties, family gatherings, food, drinks, laughter but let's be honest, they can also bring a lot of anxiety when it comes to your fitness and nutrition goals. Maybe you've been working hard all year and the thought of indulging makes you worried that you'll lose all of your progress. Or maybe you've had that feeling of regret after going a little too hard at the dessert table. Well, guess what? You can totally enjoy the holiday season, indulge a little bit and stay on track with your goals without beating yourself up. In today's episode, I'm sharing my top tips to help you navigate holiday parties with confidence, balance and joy. So grab your favorite holiday drink maybe a hot cocoa or a peppermint tea, settle in and let's get started. All right, ladies, let's talk about it.
Speaker 1:The holiday parties are rough, to say the least, and I will be the first to admit that last year I went a little too hard. I'm not going to lie, I did it. I indulged way too much. I regretted it come January, even though I was working out every single day because of all the extra calories from all the holiday parties. It didn't balance out Like I started gaining weight I mean, it was only about five pounds but you notice that you feel uncomfortable in your clothes, even if you're just feeling like puffy and bloated. It's not a fun feeling, and so this year, this holiday season, I have vowed to not do that again. I want to have balance, I want to feel good. I still want to feel healthy while enjoying the treats, and I already have holiday parties lining up in the back of my head. I have like a little bit of that anxiety where I'm like, okay, what's the plan, brie, how are we going to be proactive? So here are the tips that I came up with to help you and myself stay accountable this holiday season.
Speaker 1:So number one that I think this is the biggest for sure is letting go of that all or nothing mindset. So the first thing to talk about is mindset, because one of the biggest reasons that people struggle during the holidays is that they fall into that all or nothing trap. You know where, like you're, you say to yourself well, I already had one cookie, so I might as well have five right. Or I missed my workout today, so the whole week is ruined. But here's the truth Health and fitness are not all or nothing. One cookie or even five isn't going to undo all of your progress, the same way that one salad won't suddenly make you super fit.
Speaker 1:So the key to enjoying the holiday parties and, I would say, life in general, is to focus on balance. You can indulge a little bit without going overboard. So I want you to think of it this way If you've been consistent with your healthy habits all year, a few holiday parties are not going to erase all of your hard work. It's the habits that you stick to over time that matter most, so give yourself permission to enjoy the party without guilt. If you slip up, it's not a huge deal. Just get back to your healthy habits the next day. There's no need to punish yourself, but if you slip up, it's not a huge deal.
Speaker 1:Something that I like to do is definitely look at all the holiday parties I have and then prioritize what's going to be the most important and which ones I want to quote unquote indulge on Right, because they're not. You can't say yes to all of them. You can't eat everything at all the parties and then think that that's not going to make an impact, because it will if you add that up over the whole holiday season. So just be smart about it, pre-plan and look ahead before. Which leads me into number two, which is have a game plan before the party. So one of the best ways to set yourself up for success at holiday parties is to have a game plan going in. So I'm not saying that you have to track every bite or skip the dessert table, but a little bit of strategy can go a long way in helping you to stay mindful and you can enjoy the party without feeling like you've completely lost control. So here's what I like to do Before heading to a party I'll have a small protein pack snack at home, so it could be something like Greek yogurt or a protein shake.
Speaker 1:But this way I'm not showing up to the party starving and ready to devour everything in sight, because when you're less hungry, you're more likely to make mindful choices about what you eat. Then, when you get to the party, you want to scope out the food first before loading up your plate, and so take a look at what's being served and then decide ahead of time what you really want to indulge in. Is it your aunt's famous chocolate cake? Or maybe like that cheesy appetizer you've been waiting for all year? Whatever it is, I want you to prioritize the things that you really love and then let go of the rest. You don't need to try everything just because it's there. Okay, and last, but most importantly, don't forget the veggies. If there's a veggie potter or a salad option, I would encourage you to load that up first, because it's an easy way to fill your plate with something nutritious, and then you can leave room for the treats that you really want. Okay, leave room for the treats that you really want, okay.
Speaker 1:Number three is savor, don't scarf. One of the biggest culprits of having that like post-party guilt is mindless eating. So I am throwing Adam under the bus, but he's the worst at this. You guys like he'll literally be standing there talking to someone and he doesn't even realize that he's eating and he'll literally down like he could down an entire bag of chips in one conversation without even knowing, because he just sits and keeps eating and eating, and eating and that's mindless eating. And by the end you look at the bag it's 104 grams of carbs and 38 grams of fat. Bag, it's 104 grams of carbs and 38 grams of fat. And he didn't even realize it, right? So if you're standing at the buffet table or the dessert table and you're chatting with your friends, um, it's just super easy to like already eat 10 appetizers without even realizing it.
Speaker 1:So my simple tip for this is to slow down and savor your food, and I know it sounds too easy to be true, but trust me, eating slowly and mindfully can help you enjoy the food more while eating less. So I want you to take the time to really taste each bite. Put your fork down between bites, chew thoroughly and enjoy the flavors, because not only will you be more in tune with your hunger cues, but you'll also feel more satisfied with less food. One thing I love to do at holiday parties is I will plate my food. So instead of gracing at the buffet or picking at the appetizers, I'll fill a small plate with the things that I really want to enjoy and then I'll step away from the food. So this helps me be more mindful of what I'm eating and it gives me a chance to really enjoy my plate without feeling like I need to keep going back for more. And then also for those of you that drink, if you're enjoying some of the holiday cocktails, I want you to be mindful of how alcohol affects your hunger cues, because alcohol can lower your inhibitions and that makes it easier for you to overeat. So pace yourself, sip slowly, and then I want you to alternate between alcoholic drinks and water.
Speaker 1:Okay, number four is sneak in movement, even when you're busy. So I get it. During the holiday season, finding time to work out can almost feel impossible Between your shopping and cooking and parties. Your schedule's definitely packed and no minus, and it can feel like you're drowning at times. But here's the thing Staying active doesn't mean that you have to spend hours in the gym, so instead I want you to try to sneak in small bursts of movement throughout the day. If you can't make it to the gym or you can't get that workout in, maybe it's a quick 20-minute workout in the morning before you head out, or maybe you take a walk after dinner with your family. Even those small amounts of movement can really help to boost your mood and then keep your energy levels up, and it'll help you feel more in control of your fitness goals.
Speaker 1:For me, it kind of puts me in like the right headspace, if that makes sense, even if it's a 20 minute workout, yeah, maybe I didn't burn a ton of calories, but I'm doing something towards my fitness goal and that puts me in the right mindset so that when I do go to these parties, I'm like you know what? That's not worth it, like it's just too easy to slide down that slippery slope, right? So try to do something every day, and I'm going to do a shameless plug in my app. We have workouts that are body weight workouts or just dumbbell workouts you can do at home, specifically for times like this, when your life is so busy you can't make it to the gym. These workouts are going to get you in and get you out and help you feel your best in the shortest amount of time. If you're going to a holiday party where you'll be sitting most of the time, like, try sneaking in some movement earlier in the day, like a quick HIIT workout or even 15 minutes of yoga or something that will, just like I said before, help work wonders with your body and your mindset.
Speaker 1:And then the last tip is to ditch the guilt and enjoy the moment. So this is something that I want you to take away from this episode you do not have to feel guilty for enjoying the holidays. Okay, you don't. It's okay to indulge sometimes and this might be controversial as a personal trainer but sometimes it's okay to have a second slice of pie and it's okay to take a break from your usual routine. So the key is to find balance and to be kind to yourself.
Speaker 1:My whole goal is to help you keep that healthy relationship with your food and not feel like you're constantly in restriction. And how I do that with clients is I really help them see the balance and we take away the guilt and shame that this food is bad. This food is good. It's more listening to your body and having that balance. So here's a mindset shift for you Instead of focusing on the food or the drinks as the main event of the party, I want you to focus on the experience.
Speaker 1:The holidays are about spending time with loved ones and making memories and having fun. So when you shift your mindset to enjoy the moment rather than stressing about what you're eating, you'll find that the food becomes less of a big deal. And I want you to remember that your health and fitness journey is about consistency, not perfection. So if you holiday parties are not going to derail your progress, it's what you do most of the time that matters. So give yourself permission to enjoy the party without worrying about the scale or the calories.
Speaker 1:And if you overindulge, it's okay. Just get back to your healthy habits the next day and the most important thing is to enjoy the season with the people that you love. Now I will say if I overindulge and I really feel crappy sometimes, I'll go back and be like now. Why did I do that Like? Why did I, you know, overeat or what made me? I really kind of try to learn so that the next time I don't do that again. Or I try to remember how crappy I feel when I wake up, like, okay, next time we're not going to do that, because sometimes, when I am really good about being mindful and just eating like the treats that I feel are worth it, when I wake up the next day and I feel good, I'm always like okay, remember this feeling, how good it feels the next day. Right To not go crazy. So there you have it.
Speaker 1:Those are my top five tips for navigating the holiday parties without guilt. I want you to remember that the holidays are meant to be enjoyed, so you can have fun, you can indulge and you can stay on track with your goals. You don't have to pick one or the other. Here's my challenge for you. I want you to pick one of these tips and try it out at your next holiday party. Maybe it's eating more mindfully, or maybe it's finding small ways to stay active. Whatever it is, choose one thing and commit to it this week, and if you're ready for more support to keep you feeling your best throughout the holiday season, you can always check out my free drum start trial. It's a seven day trial and it's packed with quick workouts, mindset tips, nutrition guidance to help you stay on track without missing out on the fun. You can find that link in my show notes.
Speaker 1:So let's do a quick recap of the five tips we covered today. One let go of the all or nothing mindset, so remember you can enjoy the holidays and still stay balanced. Number two have a game plan before the party. Eat a small snack ahead of time and prioritize what you love. Number three savorvor. Don't scarf. Slow down, enjoy your food and be mindful of how much you're eating. Number four sneak in movement. Even small bursts of activity can keep you feeling really good during those busy times. And number five ditch the guilt, enjoy the moment and remember that balance is key to long-term success. The holidays should be a time of joy, not stress. So by practicing balance and mindfulness, you can enjoy all the fun and the treats while still feeling great about yourself and your goals.
Speaker 1:I hope you see these tips helpful and you feel empowered and ready to take on the holiday season with confidence. I'll talk to you later. Thank you for joining us in today's episode. If you liked the content and want to hear more, remember to hit that subscribe button and write a review. As a small business owner, I appreciate it more than you know. If you are looking for a program to help with self-confidence, to lose weight, get in shape and work on your mental, physical and emotional health, check out my training programs on wwwbodybybreecom. My team and I help to hold you accountable through the Body by Bree app, where you log in to see all your workouts, custom meal plan made specifically for you and your needs, and communication through the messenger. You are never alone when you're on the Body by Breed training program. Click the link in the show notes to get more information on how to transform your life from the inside out.
.png)