It’s NOT the Holiday Weight Gain You Need to Worry About
“Ugh! I hate the holidays. I eat and eat and eat. There is so much good stuff. I just can’t help myself. Of course, I gain like 10 lbs. No, seriously. I will step on the scale after a party and be up 5. Then, I just think to myself, ‘who cares now’, and keep eating.”
I remember complaining this exact way a few years ago.
The holidays were a time I DREADED.
It was hard enough to lose weight during any normal time of the year, but then you stacked up three sugar-laden holidays back-to-back and I believed there was NO hope for fitting into those skinny jeans.
Now, as a coach, I hear this ALLLLLLL the time. Most women struggling with weight are either terrified, frustrated or dreading what is supposed to be a joyous time.
No, you don’t just come out and say this or even maybe realize it. That’s because you have become really good at pushing it away. It’s much easier to avoid these feelings rather than tackle them head-on.
Believe me, it’s much easier to EAT through them than get uncomfortable and “fix” them!
So what are you to do? Just slog through the holidays and worry about it once the new year comes?
I hope not.
Let me get one thing clear though first.
Don’t dive headfirst into FEAR about having another 15 pounds to lose once the holidays have ended!
First of all, this is a big MYTH. Or, another way to say it is a BIG FAT LIE.
Most individuals don’t gain as much as they think over the holidays. Actually, the average is only about 2 pounds of fat.
Yep, 2 pounds.
Not bad right?
WARNING! Don’t take this information and think, “Oh! Well, now I don’t have to hold back as much as I think!”
Not the point of me telling you this.
What I hope you realize is that there is a difference between WEIGHT GAIN and FAT GAIN.
There is truth to that after that holiday get-togethers you most likely will step on the scale and see the number rise way more than you thought.
It’s called water. Water fluctuates a TON in our bodies. Especially after we’ve dumped a bunch of salt and sugar into our digestive systems.
BUT... water is relatively easy to shed… by drinking more water.
Super cool right?!
Bonus to remember... before, during, or after any party... chug water.
One side note here…
God made water on DAY ONE of creation. DAY ONE!
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Genesis 1: 1-2
Also, up to 60% of our body is made of water.
You want to know the first best step you can take to caring for your temple… WATER.
Back to weight gain over the holidays. Like I mentioned, it’s not that we gain all the much weight over the holidays. About 2 pounds, maybe more if you are already overweight.
(Yep. You read that right. If you already have that extra adipose tissue, you’re more likely to gain more than others.)
The real problem is never LOSING the two pounds AFTER the holidays are done.
You may be saying, “That’s the same thing.”
It’s NOT though. I maintain a healthy weight now quite easily. Did you know I will sometimes gain 2, 3 ever 5 pounds over a course of a couple of months?
Yep. I do.
Now, not all the weight I am gaining is fat. Some of that is muscle... which is a weight I want to gain.
Some of it IS fat, BUT it doesn’t stay long.
This is NOT because I’m obsessive and go back to counting calories.
NO!
I go back to a lifestyle I LOVE and know that I maintain a healthy body weight.
Basically, I go back to my "old" habits.
This is what I hope you take away...
Weight gain is not the problem.
WEIGHT ACCUMULATION IS.
Gaining weight and then avoiding it or justifying it so it just keeps adding on is the real problem here!
Did you know you can enjoy cookies, candy, rich homecooked meals, and all the good stuff at the holidays?!
You can!
You can enjoy these and NOT EVEN GAIN WEIGHT!
Wait, what?!
That’s exactly it. You don’t have to deprive yourself of ever yummy food and be hangry during the “most wonderful time of the year”!
Even if you do gain 1 or 2 pounds, it doesn’t have to be HARD to shed it again.
Want to know what’s “hard”?! Losing 20 pounds instead of 2.
Here is why I KNOW now that it’s not hard. Our bodies are wired for love and health and goodness. In all reality, it’s actually HARDER for our bodies to gain weight than it is to shed weight.
Think about it. Our bodies have to CREATE fat (or muscle) for it to gain weight. To lose weight, it doesn’t have create, it just needs to BREAK DOWN.
Which sounds easier to you? Creating something or breaking it down.
(I don't know about you but it takes me waaaaay longer to put all the holiday decorations up and in place rather than pack them in a box...)
So why does weight loss feel so hard?!
OUR MINDS.
The hardest part of losing weight is managing your mind.
Truly.
Managing all the lies the enemy loves to throw at us to destroy us (John 10:10) is tiring and A LOT of work.
Let’s get down to what you really want to know…
How do I enjoy the holiday treats and not let my weight spiral into the abyss?
Simple.
We break down every thought and proud thing that puts itself up against the wisdom of God. We take hold of every thought and make it obey Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5 NLV
In basic terms, we make conscious decisions with Christ.
- This looks like you deciding what you are going to eat before you go to the party instead of just “winging” it.
- It looks like choosing to have the hot chocolate with the kids ONCE after sledding instead of the three times they ask.
- It looks like skipping the gingerbread cookies because they’re not your favorite and then sitting down to BE PRESENT to enjoy the sugar cookie instead.
What most of this boils down to… SLOW DOWN, CHECK-IN, and INTENTIONALLY CHOOSE instead of running off of old bad habits.
This saying comes to mind so often when I am coaching Christian women…
“If the devil can’t make you bad, he’ll make you busy.”
He’ll make your life busy, your actions busy, your feelings busy and your mind busy…
Because if you’re busy, you don’t have time to intentionally choose.
CHECK-IN to life INTENTIONALLY CHOOSE!
This is easier said than done. That is why I coach on all the tools to help you do this.
But no matter what tool you use, I want to help prepare you for success in making intentional choices.
Here are the basics that help your mind be clear and ready to receive the Spirit’s guiding in making your intentional choices.
- Make conscious decisions about what you are going to eat before food is sitting in front of you, tempting you. Decide what you are going to eat ahead of time by PLANNING.
- Drink LOTS of water. Especially around the holidays. Our bodies will trigger HUNGER if we are mildly dehydrated. Plus, we are consuming more salt, dehydrating us the way it is.
- Don’t limit veggies. Eat all of them. As many as you want. They are full of water, nutrients, and fiber. You can never have too many veggies (in my mind). Not only will they keep you fuller longer, they just are the best way to ward off the munchies!
- SLEEP! Not only does our brain get foggy, but we also crave to be re-energized. Guess what we start to crave when we need a pick-me-up… (will somebody pass me the chocolate?). Plus, sleep is often one of the only times we aren't eating and our bodies can actually have a break. So why not get a few extra zzzz's?!
- FILL UP ON GOD’S WORD! If you go back to 2 Corinthians 10:5, we bring our thoughts to Christ. That means bringing them to the Word for Truth. Open that bible and find out what the TRUTH is and how the enemy is trying to deceive you!
BREATHE. Just breathe.
Don’t dread the holiday weight gain.
It does not equate that you'll be "fat". The dread is just fear. Fear is not of God and it's NOT TRUTH!
Instead, get back to what is TRUE:
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:12
Renew that mind and discern the good, acceptable, and perfect this holiday season!
