Holidays are amazing! They give us a chance to connect with the ones we love, enjoy time away from work, and eat great food!! YES, eating delicious food gives me great pleasure! I don't ever feel guilty when I occasionally indulge in "unhealthy" food. It's in quotes because I don't like calling it unhealthy either! Labeling food and labeling our behavior with food are two things that ruin the relationship with food forever. I don't like saying things like: "I've been bad", "خبصت", "خربت الدنيا"! To me, I just like waking up the next day and treating it as it is: a new day.
So, what do I mean by "getting back on track"?
My track is: real, whole food.
Food that has no ingredients or additions. Food that is cooked at home, with love. That's another part that I now enjoy about my life. It's a part of my self-care that I integrated into my life gradually. It's not a temporary diet. I never count calories or deprive myself. I consider it a journey that never ends.
5 Ways to Create a Healthier Routine
Plan your meals
If you write down all the meals you'll cook this week, and buy everything you need, you will be more organized and more likely to avoid any frustration due to the lack of food in the house.
Vegetables in every meal
Adding vegetables to every meal will provide you with more nutrients, and more fiber. This means that your body will work better, your immune system will work better, and your digestive system will be more regular and therefore allow you to get rid of the toxins in your body. Vegetables will also "crowd out" the less nutritious alternatives in your meal.
Drink water
Drinking water during winter is tricky. You might not feel as thirsty and might forget. If you don't like water as is, you can flavor it or even count hot, non-caffeinated herbal drinks from your water intake. Every cell in your body needs water. Water helps the detoxification process in your body and fills you up in between meals. Make sure you separate the water intake from your meals to avoid the dilution of stomach acid which will lead to digestive problems.
Notice the way you eat
What you eat on most days is important, but how you eat is even more important! Chewing every bit 20-30 times is important for digestion and to avoid bloating. Eating without distraction, while sitting down, enjoying your food, and taking 3 deep breaths before eating are all important eating habits that everyone should consider. These eating habits send a signal to your brain that everything is ok and that you're ready to "rest and digest" now. Most people eat in a rushed state or distract themselves while eating. Doing that will trigger the sympathetic nervous system which shuts down digestion and creates stress on the body.
Move more
I am not talking about going to the gym or doing regular exercise. If that's part of your life, great! However, if you're not used to exercising, don't try to add this habit to your life suddenly. You will likely be excited for a few days and then feel like it's a burden and quit! Instead, take one small step towards "more movement". It could be walking around the block for 3 days a week (specify the days and the time!), it could be doing a 15-minute workout video (choose something you love to do), dancing, or even just a few squats and pushups throughout the day. Doing that for some time will give you the confidence to take it further and upgrade your movement.
Getting back on track should not feel like a burden. It should feel like you're going back to your cozy, comfortable home. Avoid the "all or none" mindset and remember that you will reach the top one step at a time.
