Have you taken the opportunity to indulge lately? There have been so many wonderful morsels and treats available during this time of year that I hope you have. I would have encouraged you to do so. If throughout the year, you ate healthy and stayed fit, there was no reason to deprive yourself of the season’s delights—especially if you stayed on track with your normal fitness routine. Now, just slide right back into your regular eating regime as you begin the New Year.
Have you gotten a bit off track with fitness? That actually is not a reason to beat yourself up. The fact that you realize you slipped is a win. Now, add another win by getting going with your fitness routine again and you’ll be back in your groove before you know it. Don’t delay, however, as the longer you do, you risk losing momentum, and that lack of movement will become your new normal.
You might be thinking that being told to indulge is some kind of ploy I’m using to get you to seek out my Personal Training or Nutrition Coaching services in the future. Hmm, could that be because you believe I am telling you to eat as much as you can get of absolutely any food that tickles your fancy? No, dear reader, to do that would be to OVERindulge. The Oxford Dictionary would define the verb overindulge as, “have too much of something enjoyable, especially food or drink.”
The definition of the verb indulge, on the other hand, is “allow oneself to enjoy the pleasure of.” Yet, it seems we have come to confuse the two terms and taken on the Will Parker (from the musical Oklahoma) mentality of “all ‘er nothing.” So I’ll state it another, but definitely less sexy, way. Rather than using the word indulge, I encourage you to “partake” in savory appetizers, tastebud-tingling dishes, mouthwatering sides, and decadent desserts—if you know that you can do so in a way that will not waylay your healthy eating.
Allow yourself to enjoy the pleasure of a bacon-wrapped hors d’oeuvre, or even two. I understand that, in the moment, it may seem as if you would enjoy a dozen of them, but your system would likely not respond well to the extra grease and sodium those extra morsels would come with. However, one or two can be enjoyed with minimal repercussions. A portion of that succulent main course, that melts in your mouth, is not going to make the scale jump, but several portions may have you uncomfortable and up all night with an upset stomach. Just the thought of tummy trouble would make extra portions less enjoyable for me.
Too many side dishes to choose from were spread across your table recently—veggies bathed in creamy sauces, cheesy everything, carbs soaking up tasty spices (and calories) overflowed. It can be difficult to seek out the healthiest options. If FOMO (fear of missing out) makes you hangry, have a plan to enjoy a little of each, rather than a full serving of all.
When the main meal is cleared away only to bring on the finale, it could become your finale, if not careful. Was this your dilemma through the holidays? So many sweets to choose from and only one of you to eat them? But it’s only once-a-year that you get a dessert shaped like a log lying in the forest, right? Again, have a strategy. Enjoy a sliver of each, up to the equivalent of one slice of dessert. Eating healthy is not about eating miserably, it is about eating smartly.
As we enter the New Year, let’s not go into it being idealistic, but rather, realistic. Less healthy foods will always be available to you. It’s not just a seasonal temptation. Let eating healthy and movement to stay fit be your lifestyle, with the occasional indulgence to satisfy a less healthy “want.” Just be sure not to overindulge. After all, too much of anything, even something healthy, can wreak havoc on your body. How so?
Prunes. Need I say more?
Contributing writer Denise Lum is a Health and Fitness Coach raising her family in Alameda. Contact her via [email protected] or FitnessByDsign.com. Her writing is collected at AlamedaPost.com/Denise-Lum.