I recently wrote a blog on how to stay healthy during the holiday season. One of these tips is to get back on track if you have a day (or a weekend) of over indulgence. So, today I am going to share a few ways of how I get back on track if I have had one too many holiday cocktails or treats.
1. Drink extra water. I cannot stress the importance of hydrating after indulging. Even if you feel bloated or sluggish you need to drink, drink, drink. Just when you think you have drank enough…drink some more! This will help flush out the bloat. It will also help with dehydration from too much alcohol or too much sodium.
2. Increase fiber. Our gut can be irritated after a long weekend of treats and drinks. Eating foods high in fiber will help your gut get back to normal. Some high fiber foods I love to munch on are lentils, black beans and avocados.
3. Rest. Getting enough rest is so important in getting back on track. Not only will you feel better physically but, it will also help emotionally. Going to bed thirty minutes to an hour earlier will help you get ready to get up in the morning to workout. Which leads me to the forth tip.
4. Workout Normal. This means not to over do it. Too many times I hear people say “Oh I ate too much this weekend so I have to do two hours on the treadmill”. That is going to do nothing but make you feel exhausted. There is no reason to spend hours at the gym. Just get back on your normal workout routine.
5. Go back to your regular diet (for me this is macro counting). I will also hear people talk about skipping meals to make up for over indulging. There is no reason to skip meals or starve yourself. You can mess up your metabolism by doing this. Come Monday morning, get back on track with your regular diet and move forward.
6. Do not get on the scale. The scale can be a liar! I weighed the day after Thanksgiving and I was up 2 pounds. I know I did not gain 2 pounds of fat in one day. Most of this is bloat. It can take me about a week or so to get rid of bloat. So, I highly recommend not weighing yourself for about a week after indulging.
7. Do not beat yourself up. I will say this over and over. Do not feel guilty about an indulgence. It is ok to have a weekend off. Just be mindful of it and don’t let it get out of hand. Start again on Monday..drink your water, track your food and exercise.
Hope these few tips help! Drop a comment below of how you are getting back on track!
