5 TIPS FOR GETTING YOUR DIET BACK ON TRACK AFTER THE HOLIDAYS | By Hubert Cormier

Following extreme diets or detox processes is one of the most common mistakes people make after the holiday season. Why is that so? Because these diets are often very—if not too—calorie restrictive, and are almost impossible to maintain over the long term. Instead, I offer you my five favourite tips that you can integrate into your daily routine and, hopefully, keep using in the months to come!
 

This advice may seem simple, yet it’s something we all forget over the holidays. After a whole week of abundant food, paying attention to your hunger and fullness signals is essential. The most important thing is not to ignore the internal signals that regulate hunger and to avoid starving yourself to compensate for your holiday excesses. Try to achieve a balanced diet on a weekly rather than daily basis.

After having too much of the good things (salty food, sweets, alcohol, etc.) over the holidays, nothing beats getting back to healthy diet habits. Mild dehydration can often be mistaken for hunger, which results in you snacking more often when you are thirsty. Make sure you drink enough water every day. Why not start your day with a big glass of water? You’ll already have taken in a good amount within minutes of waking up! Then, to make sure you don’t forget to drink, it may be a good idea to set alarms on your cell phone or download applications designed for that purpose, such as Daily Water – Drink Reminder!

Holiday meals vary from one family to another, but one thing they often have in common is a serious lack of fruits and veggies! Following the holiday season, pay close attention to the number of servings of fruits and vegetables you eat throughout the day and challenge yourself to increase the number of servings by at least one a day to get as close as possible to the recommended 7 to 10 servings!

Increase your fibre intake by opting for fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes. Not only will they help you feel full, but they will also help your digestion by promoting intestinal transit (i.e. get your bowels moving!) and make you feel better!

Eating meat pies, meatballs and turkey for another week after the holiday celebrations will certainly not help you feel lighter! Why not freeze your hearty, high-fat leftovers so you can enjoy them a few weeks later when you run out of time on a weeknight?

These simple strategies will help you avoid feeling guilty about eating—or eating too much—over the holidays. Give yourself permission to indulge in some holiday delights and let the fun begin. Fortunately, the Christmas holidays only last a few days, so you needn’t worry too much!