Yesterday my Instagram and Facebook feeds were full of sweet family photos, beautiful Easter dresses, babies with bunny ears, Easter dinner spreads, mimosas and the like. This morning my feeds are overflowing with posts about Easter indulgences, candy overload and needing to get back on track. I even received a text message from Earth Fare with a special offer on antacids!
So I thought that today is a good time to share my tips for getting back on track after an indulgent holiday. While I missed having Easter dinner with my family (so sad I couldn’t get down to Florida), I did enjoy quite the indulgent rest day on Saturday and started my Easter off with a hefty dose of candy with breakfast and maintained a steady stream of Starburst Jelly Bean snacking throughout the day. (Why are they so good?)
First, let’s talk about the holiday itself. If you’ve been reading this blog for any length of time at all you know that my food philosophy is based around enjoying life and eating well. While I eat healthy and “clean” most of the time, when it comes to holidays and special occasions I would much rather indulge and celebrate the special time with my loved ones than worry about what I’m eating. You will never see me packing special foods, skipping dessert or passing on the mac and cheese when it comes to a family holiday meal! Life is too short!
My number one tip about rebounding from an indulgent holiday is to FORGET ABOUT IT! It was worth it and today’s a new day! Also, 99.9% of the time a cheat meal or day isn’t going to cause you to put on 5 pounds. You might feel a little sluggish or hold onto some extra water weight after but you’ll get right back to normal once you jump back into your regular routine.
My second tip is to kick off the day after with hot lemon water and a green smoothie. The hot lemon water helps with digestion and water retention in addition to other detoxifying benefits. The green smoothie (or juice) will give you a light start with something that is easily digestible but packed with vitamins and nutrients.
Third, hydrate! If you have a hard time drinking plain water then jazz it up with some fresh fruit, sliced cucumbers or splurge for the sparkly stuff. Try to drink at least half of your bodyweight in ounces of water each day. (Example…if you weight 120 pounds, drink at least 60 ounces per day.) Also, drink several cups of tea throughout the day. My favorites for detox and digestion are dandelion, ginger and green tea.
Fourth, stock up on healthy foods with a focus on lots of fruits and veggies. I did a mega restock trip at Trader Joe’s last night and brought home half of their produce department! When your fridge is stocked with these things, it’s much easier to get your veggies in and make healthy choices.
And fifth, SWEAT IT OUT! There’s nothing like a good, sweaty workout to get you feeling like your normal self again. I would recommend something like a hot yoga class, a nice run or a bodyweight/light weight circuit training workout that keeps your heart rate up. Here are a few workout suggestions.
Cinco de Cardio Circuit
Rainy Day Home Workout
Cardio Strength Interval Workout
20 Minute Bodyweight Tabata
The Running 500 Rep Workout
Burpee Box Jump Chipper Workout
What’s your strategy to rebound from holidays and get back on track with eating and exercise?
