Getting Back On Track After The Festive Season

First it was the lead up to Christmas, then it was Christmas Day and then right before you knew it, it was New Years Eve! Your eating patterns were all over the place, your routine was different and all the days felt like they blended in together. Now 2024 is here, your ready to get back on track but where do you start?

First things first. Now is the time to let go of any guilt you may be feeling and instead of focusing on what we can't change focus on what we can!

Here are my top 5 tips for getting back on track:

1. Start your day with a higher protein meal i.e. omelette, eggs on sourdough bread with some avocado, tomato and mushroom, adding some nuts to your cereal. This will reduce food cravings throughout the day and keep you full.

2. Focus on what you can add into your diet not what you can take away i.e. adding in a piece of fruit, having an extra cup of salad or vegetables with your dinner.

3. Stick to small goals. If you change 2 things in you diet a month that is 24 things a year. They don't have to be big i.e instead of 2 sugars in your coffee have 1. Adding vegetables to your dinner.

4. Focus on your sleep. Knowing how much sleep you need to feel good is important. Lack of sleep can lead to an increase in ghrelin (the hunger hormone) and a decrease in leptin (the hormone that signals fullness). This hormonal imbalance can result in heightened feelings of hunger and cravings for high-calorie, often sugary or fatty, foods.

5. Hydration. If you are not on a fluid restriction, having 2L a day of fluid is desirable. Ideally this would be a minimum of 1L of water and another litre of low calorie drinks i.e tea, coffee, fruit infused water

6. Plan your meals. You don't have to plan for a whole week but even planning for a few days. By having a plan in place allows you to shop for what you need and you are more likely to stick to it.