ELENA MCCOWN
  • Home
  • About
  • Services
  • Shop My Favorites
  • Blog
  • Recipes
    • Prepear App
    • Appetizers
    • Baked Goods
    • Condiments
    • Desserts
    • Drinks
    • Breakfast
    • Meals and Sides
    • Smoothies
    • Snacks
    • Soups & Salads
  • Life
    • My Life
    • Programs
    • Workouts and Exercises
    • Wellness Information and Tips
    • Williamson County, TN Paths, Trails and Parks
  • Disclaimer/Privacy Policy/Terms of Service

Living Life Balanced Blog

What If You Started Now?

9/28/2018

1 Comment

 
The last 3 months of the year are rough...I get it! Between pumpkin spice this, apple pie that, tailgating, football watching, Halloween candy eating, Thanksgiving food scarfing, party food snacking, Christmas cookie baking, holiday dinner devouring, New Year's Eve imbibing....there are a lot of delicious food and drinks available at all times in all places. It is in your face in the stores, at work, home, restaurants, parties and more! 

A lot of people go into this last quarter of the year saying..."Well, there is so much going on these next few months that between all of the food, cold weather, stress and travel, I will just let myself go and start over again on January 1"...........BUT what if you DIDN'T? What if, instead of "letting yourself go" for an entire QUARTER OF THE YEAR, you decided to make healthy choices, continue or start working out and even eat some of your favorite holiday treats in moderation? What if, by the time January 1st came around, you were already 3 MONTHS AHEAD of where you would have been if you had decided to "let yourself go"? 

Did you know it takes most people 5 months to work off what they gained over the last quarter of the year? When January comes around and if your resolution is to lose weight, you are basically just trying to take off what you just put on. Again, what if you did not put on any weight, and instead by January, you were the same weight or maybe even a few pounds less than you weigh today? What if you didn't indulge over the next 3 months so you didn't have to restrict yourself come January? January doesn't have to be a sad, hard, food eliminating, extreme workout doing, alcohol banning month. It can be...just another month! 

How do you do this, you ask? You don't need to diet. You don't need to avoid the fun holiday foods. You don't need to workout for hours. You just need a plan.


  1. Stay (or get more) active. Figure out what routine works best for you. Just keep moving and don't give up. If you are traveling or have family coming to town, don't use that as an excuse. If you can't get them involved too, then make sure to take some time for yourself and get your workout in. Aim for 30 minutes of activity at least 5 days a week. Going on 2 - 15 minute walks a day is still great activity! 
  2. Plan your meals and snacks for the week ahead. Do the best you can, it doesn't have to be perfect. If anything, aim to eat at least a healthy and balanced breakfast and lunch each day. Pick your favorite snacks to always have on hand that you also won't overindulge in. Eat those instead of the chips, candy and cookies that are brought to your office or home. Going out to dinner or attending a party? Plan what you will eat ahead of time, fill your small plate only once and choose a few of your favorite items (as well as some veggies) so you don't feel deprived. 
  3. Take a few minutes each day to relax. The holidays can be stressful and stress leads to not getting enough sleep which leads to bad moods, tiredness, and making poor decisions (especially with food and exercise). Your mental health is so important. Listen to your favorite podcast, read a book, take a bath or just sit silently for a few minutes. Take the time to recharge. Also, make sure to get enough sleep each night, too!

You don't need to give up your favorite holiday foods. Just remember, everything in moderation. Try to eat well 80% of the time and indulge a little 20% of the time. That doesn't mean to get crazy and eat everything in sight. It just means, have a small treat each day or enjoy a holiday meal when they come around. Remain in control. Planning ahead will save you. You don't need to be perfect, just don't let yourself go over the next 3 months. Your January 1st self will thank you. 

If you need help navigating through the holidays over the next few months, please contact me for health coaching 
https://www.elenamccown.com/services.html ! Sometimes you need an accountability partner, someone to help motivate you, give you ideas of what to do at a party or when food is constantly around you, or maybe you just want someone to help plan your weekly menu. That is what I am here for! Just remember, you CAN do this. If you need help along the way, please ask :)
What If You Started Now? How to navigate through the holidays and avoid weight gain with Elena McCown, LLC, health coach in Franklin, TN
Posts may contain affiliate links. If you purchase a product through an affiliate link, your cost will be the same but Elena McCown, LLC will receive a small commission. Your support is greatly appreciated! The information I provide is not to take the place of your personal physician’s advice and is not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent any disease. Please discuss this information with your own healthcare provider to determine what is right for you. All information is intended for your general knowledge and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. I share general health and wellness recipes, ideas, documents, motivation and other related information that is aimed to help you take your health into your own hands.
1 Comment
kodi.software link
7/28/2022 08:52:09 am

anks for sharing the article, and more importantly, your personal experience mindfully using our emotions as data about our inner state and knowing when it’s better to de-escalate by taking a time out are great tools. Appreciate you reading and sharing your story since I can certainly relate and I think others can to

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Elena McCown, LLC Health Coach in Franklin, TN

    About Me

    I am a food loving, activity seeking health coach who resides in Franklin, TN with my husband and two sweet dogs (Lola & Penny).
    ​

    Allergies

    I believe everyone should eat balanced and not cut food groups if you don't medically need to. All foods can fit in a healthy diet. Unfortunately, I have to avoid gluten and also limit myself with dairy, so my goal is to provide healthy, gluten-free/dairy-free recipes so EVERYONE can enjoy all foods, even if you do have to cut out certain food groups. My recipes are encouraged for everyone to eat, not just for those with sensitivities/allergies! Most of my recipes can be easily converted by using real dairy and whole-wheat in place of my allergy-free substitutes. 

    Search

    Looking for something specific? Everything can be found by category under the "Life" and "Recipes" sections on my website or you can search below.

    Archives

    October 2021
    September 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018

    Categories

    All
    Life
    Recipes
    Start Here!

    RSS Feed

Location

Find Out More

                  About                     Contact 
            Services           Online Programs
                    Blog                    Life
          Recipes            Prepear App
  Disclaimer/Privacy Policy/TOS

Connect With Me

@elenamccown

Newsletter

Picture
Elena McCown, LLC Health Coach in Franklin, TN
  • Home
  • About
  • Services
  • Shop My Favorites
  • Blog
  • Recipes
    • Prepear App
    • Appetizers
    • Baked Goods
    • Condiments
    • Desserts
    • Drinks
    • Breakfast
    • Meals and Sides
    • Smoothies
    • Snacks
    • Soups & Salads
  • Life
    • My Life
    • Programs
    • Workouts and Exercises
    • Wellness Information and Tips
    • Williamson County, TN Paths, Trails and Parks
  • Disclaimer/Privacy Policy/Terms of Service