Holiday Survival Guide

I created this survival guide to help you get through the holidays with a little less stress…and bloating/weight gain. Of course, I have also included some great cancer fighting foods to work into your diet this holiday season!

First, I want to touch on the emotional and mental toll that the holiday season can have on us. The holidays are a very nostalgic time of the year, it might bubble up old memories that make us sad, maybe we just lost someone and we are missing even more around this time of year. So, here are my tips to help you mentally survive the season.

For the Brain

1. Give yourself permission to take care of yourself. We are giving ourselves to our jobs, families and wherever else, take the time to slow down and meditate, sleep, eat or whatever you feel your body needs, but allow yourself to do it.

2. Choose activities that make you feel good. If you want to stay in bed and in your PJs on Christmas morning and not go to your relatives homes, gosh darn it, do it! Explain to your family members you love them deeply, but I need to take this time for myself and my family. Your memories of the holidays shouldn’t be rushing around from place to place.

3. Don’t go broke buying gifts. This is the season of giving, but you don’t have to put yourself in a hole doing it. You’ll be starting the New Year off in the red and stressed about credit card debit. If you have a big family and small budget suggest doing a gift exchange or white elephant, which is super fun! Or put yourself under the tree, because you are your family’s gift after all...

4. Take a minute to get quiet. The hustle and bustle of the holidays leave us all with our heads spinning. Practice meditation (my favorite app is head space) and get really centered and clear on your intentions for this holiday season. I’m sure one of your intentions is NOT to have elevated blood pressure. If meditation isn’t your jam, go for a walk in the woods or exercise, which leads me to…

5. Move your body. Exercise releases endorphins (as I have said before) and just helps to get your blood flowing. You don’t need to do some crazy workout routine or run 20 miles, unless thats your jam. Move in a way your body is telling you to.

For the Bod

1. 2 days of pristine eating.If you have a holiday part coming up or a day you know you will be eating not-so-great, have at least two days where you are eating clean, no processed foods, limit your carbs, NO PROCESSED FOODS, and stay hydrated. I suggest you do these two days earlier in the week if the event or holiday falls on the weekend.

2. Fatty girl. Incorporate good fats into your diet like nuts (not peanuts), olive oil, MCT oil, and avocado. They’ll help you stay satiated and they’re the fats that help you lose fat.

3. Eat your greens! It’s always important to eat your greens, but on weeks when we are indulging it’s even more important. My top greens are brussel sprouts, asparagus, broccoli and kale. Some laboratory research has found that the carotenoids in dark leafy greens can inhibit the growth of certain types of breast, skin, lung, and stomach cancer cells!

4. Supplements. Vitamin D tends to be super low in people who are city dwellers and when your vitamin D is low it can have major effects on your mood and cognitive functioning.Not to mention, prolonged low levels of D can increase your risk for cancer…YIKES! Magnesium citrate is another great supplement to take, it helps with your stress levels, sleep and metabolism. If “stressed” is your name and anxiety is your game like it is for me, CBD gives more immediate relief to anxiety than magnesium.

5. Apple Cider Vinegar. I have a recent obsession with ACV, it truly helps with keeping you full when you drink it before a carb-y meal and it also has anti-cancer properties, along with a bunch of other benefits! I drink this after my run, or else I’d barf it up.

6. Drink, drank, drunk. Stick to clear alcohols, champagne, and a nice red wine. Don’t add sugary beverages to your hard alcohol, try seltzer with a squeeze of lime. Also, stay hydrated throughout the night, for every alcoholic drink have a glass of water, you’ll be peeing a lot, but thanking me in the morning.

7. Lucky number 3. Pick out 2-3 treats you really want to indulge in and stick to them. Often times we go ham on the apps, alcohol and dinner and then it leaves us feeling crappy. It’s more about feeling good and enjoying yourself than staying skinny.

I hope you enjoyed these lists and they help you get through the holiday season with a little less stress and constipation :)

If you want more information on how to feel great and prevent cancer, contact me for personalized holistic health coaching.

Happy Holidays Everyone!