Do you pack on the pounds every year between Thanksgiving and The New Year only to set a New Year’s Resolution to lose it again? This year, let’s plan in advance and get our mindsets right to start the New Year feeling and looking great!

In Advance of the Holidays

There are plenty of things you can do right now to reduce your chances of overindulging during the holidays.

  1. Audit Your Mental Health: Check in with yourself. Does this time of year fill you with anxiety? Do you stress about overspending or family overload? It is important that you identify feelings and triggers in advance to make changes early on, whether it is creating a weekly savings goal at the end of October or spreading family visits out over the two holiday months rather than cramming them into a few weeks. Still need help? Multiple components impact stress and mental health such as hormone depletion and vitamin deficiencies – talk to your Tampa Bay Total Wellness provider about those today.
  2. Audit Your Fitness Routine: Do you have a set fitness regimen? If you do, now is the time to ramp it up to account for the extra calories you will likely consume during the holiday months. Don’t forget that strength training is not just for building muscle; it also helps to burn fat more effectively than cardio alone. If you don’t currently have one or are lost on where to start, working with a personal trainer, even for a short period of time, is a great way to learn which exercises are effective and learn proper form. A new addition to the Tampa Bay Total Wellness team is our in-house personal trainer, Amy, who boasts decades of experience. You can get a quality workout routine customized for your ability and needs before or after your regularly scheduled TBTW appointment.
  3. Audit Your Diet: Most of us need to make adjustments in our diets, from eating more protein and fiber to stay fuller longer to cutting out calorie-dense beverages. If you are someone who struggles with cravings and is already overweight, now is a great time to see which weight loss injectables you are a candidate for. TBTW offers multiple options for quick, painless injectables that help reduce hunger cravings with minimal side effects. Stabilizing your weight ahead of the holidays helps you maintain it better when you are in the throes of egg-nog cravings!

Holiday Parties & Get Togethers

  1. Stabilize Your Hunger: If you are already on a GLP weight loss injectable, make sure you remember to use it! Also, eat a small, protein and fiber-rich meal ahead of the party so you don’t devour every passing hors d’oeuvre.
  2. Place Yourself Strategically: At a work or social holiday party? Avoid standing right by the food table or server entrance so you don’t end up reaching for the buffet or food tray every time you look up. Family holiday meal? If sitting next to Aunt Rita stresses you out, arrive earlier and find a spot where you can relax and eat your meal in peace.
  3. Enjoy Your Food: Holiday parties and family get-togethers are a time to indulge in your favorites. Many of us only eat our grandmother’s special cookie at this time of year. So, eat the foods you love and simply don’t take home any leftovers of the less-healthy options. Also, be sure to avoid sugary beverages and seasonal alcoholic drinks that pack on the pounds – stick to water and enjoy your dessert guilt-free! Over-indulge by mistake? Come into TBTW for a Meyer’s Cocktail infusion afterward and feel great the next day.

Remember that although the holidays can be stressful, the reason for the season is faith, love, and family. Lean into that and enter the New Year too blessed to be stressed!