Tips for an Overcoming Holiday Mindset

You and I have a couple of options as the holiday season draws near. 1) Be resigned that party treats and big feasts will add some inches and pounds  2) Start now by changing your mindset, and preparing yourself for victory!

TIP 1: If you don’t make a mindset decision for what your boundaries will be for the upcoming festive months, it will be unlikely or next to impossible to make that decision in the midst of the temptations.

You may choose to abandon “saying no” to foods during the holidays, but it does make it harder. If we feed our “flesh” all it wants, it will begin to boss us around demanding this and that and more of it. I am choosing to be a bit more proactive this year and make some “line in the sand” decisions now. My friend, Felicia, always says, “Nothing tastes as good as feeling good feels.”

Here is the mindset I am adopting. I invite you to join me!

“I will plan ahead.” I’ve already discovered a delicious Pumpkin Bread replacement, (watch for it) and I am searching now for a great Pumpkin Pie and possibly a Pecan Pie Paleo approved recipe.  The key is having some very healthy substitutes so that you do not feel deprived. With a delicious substitute and a cup of great tasting herbal tea, I have trained my soul (mind, will and emotions) that it will greatly enjoy what I give it.

“I will eat ONLY *debit foods I absolutely LOVE.” This past Saturday night, John and I went to a dinner with several of our friends. I knew my friend, Wally, was going to bring a carrot cake, which happens to be my favorite cake in the world. I decided beforehand that I would totally enjoy one piece of this cake and not feel guilty about eating it. (Two points here: If you decide beforehand that you will enjoy a debit food, don’t allow any guilt to come in. Just eat it slowly and enjoy it. Second point is that eating the debit food should not be a regular habit, as it will set us back. Who wants to be sat back?)

* A debit food is any food or drink that steals one’s health and fitness. Just like we keep a bank ledger of money with credits and debits, so are foods. Credit foods add to our health and fitness.

“I will eat with intention and not carelessly.” I can remember years ago when the children were little, we would drive over to Arlington to have dinner with my mom and dad on Sunday nights. Mother was a very good cook and for some reason an attitude of “careless eating” seemed to overtake me. I ate just as much of what I wanted thinking I could start eating better on Monday morning.

“I will enjoy who I am more than what I eat.” This will become easy with practice.

Inspiration: Gratefulness brings greatness. A great habit to develop is daily writing down ten things we are grateful for. God tells us to offer the sacrifice of “Thanksgiving”

Tip 2:  REFUSE TO QUIT   Once you make a decision to go forward in your fitness, pray for God to put steel in your convictions (so you don’t change your mind and quit); and iron in your soul: your mind, your will and your emotions. Don’t let your mind tell you it is too hard. Look forward to your workouts by visualizing the wonderful transformation that is ahead of you.

Invigorate my soul so I can praise you well,
use your decrees to put iron in my soul.
And should I wander off like a lost sheep—seek me!
I’ll recognize the sound of your voice.
~ Ps 119:169