The holidays are behind us. Queue influencers posting how many burpees you would have to do to burn off the piece of pie you ate. Or how many push ups it would take to equal that extra dinner roll. Or the amount of minutes on a treadmill for the after dinner cocktails. Nobody is talking about how to develop a healthy relationship with food so that you don’t feel like an utter failure any time you participate in normal social activities. In the very beginning, I was bombarded with “one piece of apple times equals xx burpees, xx squats, xx minutes running” and so on. I almost always opted to skip the fun stuff, because it just meant I would have to pay for it later.

Am I saying go eat a whole batch of fudgy oatmeal cookies in one sitting? Not exactly (been there). What I’m saying is that you shouldn’t feel like you have to earn what you eat, even if it is more than usual, or a sweet treat (or many sweet treats!)

I do understand that it is easier said than done. “OK I will have a guilt free Thanksgiving meal!” and it is guilt free, while you are making your plate. I am talking about that dark time after getting home, and changing into comfy clothes. That time where you feel bloated and puffy. I’m talking next morning food-hangover. THAT, my friends, is when you need to remain guilt free. That is when you need to be the most forgiving of yourself. 

Something I had to remind myself of coming out of Thanksgiving, when I gained four pounds in four days. I was a little shook, NGL. I didn’t go THAT hard on Thanksgiving, why four whole pounds? Maybe the sodium from Dos Primos on Thanksgiving Eve, and the Black Friday guilty pleasures I indulge in every year. Regardless, it was four pounds, and yes I did cry.

But because I know how I am, here are some tricks I’ve learned to keep my body feeling full, while getting back on track. Peanut butter & banana toast – 2 tbsp PB, ¾ banana, 2 pieces of dry toast. Scrumptious. Even better paired that with a Protein 2O energy/protein water. Fruit! Eat all the fruit. Veggies are great too, but I don’t love raw veggies. Protein! Any way you can get it, honestly. Big cereal eater? Try Honey Nut Cheerios with a vanilla protein shake in lieu of milk. Move your body. Have a dance party in your living room. Get your steps in. There are days I walk around my house like a crazy person. Drink water! Take your greens. Add some collagen to them (15 grams straight protein!). 1st Phorm sells an AMAZING collagen powder that I take daily. These little things can make a big difference in how you feel.

Do I plan on taking these pounds with me into the new year? No. Do I plan on punishing myself with extra running, or trimming my macros? Hopefully no. I’d be lying if I said 100% no. I am human, and sometimes my irrationality gets the best of me. So just get out there, be nice to yourself, and be nice to others. Until next time my friends!