For many, it’s common to gain weight, lose confidence, and stress around the holidays. It should be a merry time of year, but packing on the pounds and feeling not-so-pretty is stress inducing. There will be food and alcohol passed around at nearly every holiday party you attend. You’ll want to say no (to avoid the embarrassment of bloating and weight gain), but you shouldn’t have to say no. It doesn’t feel good to completely deprive oneself of life’s delicious flavors. Luckily, you don’t have to.
This year, you don’t have to stress because balance is on your side. These tips are designed to keep you looking good while you indulge in the best parts of the holidays.
{Look Good, Feel Great}
Halloween candy is a short-term indulgence, but Thanksgiving and Christmas is primetime for frosted cookies and decadent meats. The more holiday parties you attend, the more you’ll be faced with temptation. The secret to maintaining your weight and satisfying your hunger is balance.
Never go to a party hungry, says New York psychologist Carol Goldberg, PhD. Instead, have a nutritious snack and fill up on water while you’re still at home. Then, when you arrive, you won’t be fueled by starvation and make regrettable decisions.
According to the Western Journal of Nursing Research, perceived deprivation actually causes a dieter to hyper focus on food. The more preoccupied with food you are, the more deprived you’ll feel. And, this is a leading cause of diet failure. Instead, allow yourself to eat; simply use portion control. Consider what you love most (pie, mixed drinks, stuffing) and allow yourself a few bites of each.
{Take Care of You}
One of the easiest ways to continue a path of good eating is to treasure the body you have. Take a moment to look in the mirror and admire what you see there. Then, take time to exfoliate, moisturize, and do all the other stuff that makes your skin look great.
If something is bothering you about your skin or body, now is the time to tackle the issue. For example, you may have a skin tag, wart, or other blemish that’s sticking out and ruining your self-esteem, these sorts of issues have easy solutions. You purchase a skin tag remover, and use it to gift yourself with beautiful holiday skin.
Remember to get enough sleep every night, and don’t use expired cosmetics on your face. Go through your cosmetics and get rid of old ones. Keep lip balm and moisturizers handy. Never ever go to bed with makeup on because this can cause acne breakouts and skin spots. It can and will clog your delicate pores. If you take care of you, and drink lots of water, your skin should look radiant at all holiday parties.
{Have Fun: It’s a Party}
After all the hard work, comes the good time. Work hard, play hard right? It’s the holidays, so feel free to dress like a star.
Get your clothes in the right size. Treat yourself if you’ve got nothing that fits because you deserve clothing that is comfortable, beautiful, and form-fitting.
Include with your outfit some trendy accessories, and pay a lot of attention to your hair. If possible, ask a professional to style you, as beautiful hair and clothing often detract from other areas. You’ll be less self-conscious about your body when you feel beautiful for other reasons.
It’s important to create and keep healthy habits, but this isn’t always possible during the holidays. You don’t have to be perfect all the time, and having fun is a gift you deserve. Don’t stress, and you won’t stress if you take measures to do the things that make you look and feel your best. When you feel good, you actually enjoy more, so do you girl!
