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Stressing about holiday food can backfire. Worrying about your food choices can lead to anxiety which could eventually lead to chronic stress. For some good advice about how to approach food at this time of year, read this post from the BODi Blog by \u00a0Dominique Michelle Astorino<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n We\u2019re charging full steam ahead into the holiday season. And between family dinners,\u00a0festive libations, and indulging in comfort food to deal with\u00a0holiday stress, it\u2019s easy to overdo it this time of year.<\/p>\n But worrying about your food choices can add to your anxiety \u2014 as if you needed\u00a0extra<\/em> stress during this already hectic season.<\/p>\n And over time, all that stress can mess with your body and may actually\u00a0contribute to weight gain.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s why: When you\u2019re dealing with chronic stress, your body releases the stress hormone cortisol.<\/p>\n Not only can cortisol increase fat storage, but research suggests it may also make you more likely to\u00a0consume more calories<\/a>.<\/p>\n So while it\u2019s a good idea to follow a few\u00a0simple strategies\u00a0to avoid completely derailing your health goals over the holidays, it\u2019s also important not to obsess over every bite of peppermint bark.<\/p>\n Here are three reasons why you should stress less about the occasional holiday indulgence.<\/p>\n Worried about how many calories are in your grandma\u2019s sugar cookies? Feeling guilty because you grabbed seconds of your aunt\u2019s sweet potato casserole?<\/p>\n Cut yourself some slack on special occasions.<\/p>\n \u201cThe occasional feast isn\u2019t going to sabotage your progress toward your fitness or weight-loss goals,\u201d says Trevor Thieme, C.S.C.S.<\/p>\n True,\u00a0research suggests<\/a>\u00a0holiday weight gain is fairly common \u2014 but the typical holiday weight gain is around 0.4 to 0.9 kilograms (about a pound or two).<\/p>\n Tighten up your\u00a0nutrition, stick to your\u00a0usual workout routine, and you should be able to get back on track pretty quickly.<\/p>\n \u201cWillpower is like a muscle that can become\u00a0fatigued over time,\u201d says Krista Maguire, R.D.<\/p>\n The more mental energy you spend on trying to avoid certain foods, the more you\u2019ll end up craving those \u201cforbidden\u201d foods.<\/p>\n But allowing yourself to say yes to a favorite treat now and then can give that \u201cwillpower muscle\u201d a much-needed chance to recover.<\/p>\n So go ahead and enjoy that stuffing or mac \u2018n cheese at a family dinner \u2014 but Maguire advises really tuning in to a\u00a0mindful eating practice\u00a0to fully savor and appreciate each bite.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Could you\u00a0really<\/em>\u00a0stick to a diet that rules out hot cocoa forever? Probably not.<\/p>\n For a\u00a0healthy eating plan\u00a0to work, it needs to be sustainable.<\/p>\n As long as you\u2019re not eating mashed potatoes and gravy and pecan pie and eggnog every day, don\u2019t worry about enjoying them at one holiday dinner.<\/p>\n The occasional\u00a0cheat meal\u00a0or\u00a0mindful indulgence\u00a0can keep you from feeling deprived or getting frustrated and giving up.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you do indulge, you should do it consciously, mindfully, and enjoy it thoroughly,\u201d says Michele Promaulayko, author of\u00a0Sugar Free 3<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n So instead of swearing off sweets and comfort foods completely over the holidays, focus on savoring a few bites of your favorite foods (and maybe a hot toddy, too).<\/p>\n Then just\u00a0get back on your healthy-living game\u00a0tomorrow.<\/p>\n1. One Big Meal Can\u2019t Undo All Your Hard Work<\/h2>\n
![\"maggianos](\"https:\/\/bodiblog.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/where-to-buy-thanksgiving-dinner-600-maggianos.png\")
<\/p>\n2. Your Willpower Needs an Occasional Rest Day<\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\n3. Treats Make Your Healthy Eating Plan Doable<\/h2>\n
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