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are you paying attention?

 


This time of year can pass in a blur.  We get so busy making things merry and bright, rushing from party to party, cooking food and buying gifts, that we forget to stop and enjoy the moments.  We stop paying attention. 

Then one day we wake up and find that we’ve put on five extra pounds, our joints are achy, our heads are a little stuffy, and despite the fact we feel like we could nap at any time, we are wired—either on caffeine or adrenaline (or a combination of both!) and eager to rush to the next thing planned.

I had this happen already last week.  I enjoyed Thanksgiving with friends and family, then another Thanksgiving meal with relatives, then a tailgate party—all lots of fun, but they took a toll on me.  There may have been a few drinks involved, a piece of pie or two, and some other foods that I know I should be more careful with (gluten, I’m looking at you!)  I had used the Holiday Loophole.  You know the one:  I only eat this once a year, so I’m going to enjoy it and start again on Monday.  And honestly, if it’s really only once a year, I’m not going to beat myself up about it.  The truth, though, is that the Holiday Loophole can also be disguised as the Birthday Party Loophole, or the Vacation Loophole, or the Holiday Party Loophole.  Yep, that’s a whole lot of loopholes, and that many loopholes can really mess with your success.

I had stopped paying attention. 

I woke up Sunday morning and noticed that my joints were aching more than usual.  And not just my joints, but my whole body.  I had put on a few pounds, my brain was fuzzy, and my nose was stuffy.  In the past I might have ignored it, but it’s hard to ignore now that I’ve figured out that by cleaning up my diet I can feel so much better, 

That doesn’t mean that I won’t have a drink or two with friends anymore, it just means that I’ll be more careful about what I drink.  It doesn’t mean I won’t eat any cookies this year, I’ll just avoid the gluten and limit my consumption.  It also means that I will remember to fill up with protein before I try the mashed potatoes.  But most of all, I will remind myself that the holidays are not about the food.  They are about spending quality time with the people I care about.  And that, my friends, is often the part we (I mean I!) forget to slow down and pay attention to.

Also, I will pay attention when my body is trying to tell me something.  When I’m tired I will try to get more sleep or take a quick nap.  When I’m hungry I will eat some protein. When my body hurts I will take some time to stretch and think about what I might have done to make it hurt.  And when I feel my emotions getting the better of me, I will remember to breathe, focus on the present, and maybe take a walk outside.

Figure out what works for you, but whatever you do, make sure you pay attention.  If the last two years have taught us anything, it’s that we can’t take anything for granted.  Time passes quickly, our kids grow up too fast, and tomorrow’s plans are never guaranteed.


 If you'd like to talk to me more about creating a wellness and nutrition plan that works for you, I've got you!  I'm a certified Nutrition Coach who will create a simple, customized meal plan for you and coach you through how to implement it into your busy life.  We also talk about all the pitfalls that make it hard, and help you make it the anchor that keeps you healthy, energized, and sane through the whirlwind of your everyday life.

I'd love to talk to you about the program, so please book a free consultation with me by clicking the Calendly button. I look forward to talking to you!


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