My extended family begins planning for the holidays as early as August of each year, deciding when and where we will celebrate Thanksgiving. Those conversations naturally morph into visions of sugar plums and Christmas festivities that crowd the calendar. And always, the menus always steal center stage.
For many of us, the holiday season begins now, and continues into New Year's celebrations. It's the "Season of Eating"! We're surrounded by treats, high-carb sides, seasonal cocktails. Somehow celebrating implies that we will eat all the things!
And that's exactly what I used to think, until I managed to find the joy in the holidays in which we celebrate gratitude, redemption, and renewal. That joy wasn't on the buffet.
If you're worried about the holidays, begin by putting food in the background instead of center stage. Start now deciding how you can celebrate without focusing on the old high-carb temptations. Start now while there's time to plan for success. Your secret weapon? Join the 5 Weeks of Keto with Kristie!
Many members who have completed the program have told us how they were no longer tempted by high-carb foods. They felt empowered to refuse the sweets and treats that has always seemed impossible to refuse!
One participant says: "Biggest change I'm seeing and I can't seem to get my head around it is food doesn't seem to appeal to me anymore. I finally got it! I just got to get my head around it its that imaginary battle but I'm winning."
Another member writes, "Going well and I have avoided eating any of the tempting sweet snacks at work."
Similar to holiday challenges, a cruise can be a floating island of indulgence, but one member was even empowered to stay on plan during a week-long cruise! "I had no temptation during that week because of everything I learned and also because I don't want to fall back into the disastrous way of eating I was engaged in before."
What about those food pushers or those who aren't always so supportive? The 5-week plan can help you learn how to manage that too:
"I liked the daily coaching emails, and I especially liked the tips on how to deal with "helpful" family members or friends who seem to want to sabotage you."5 Weeks of Keto with Kristie can help you shift the focus from food to better health, which will allow you to truly enjoy the holidays.
On keto, I can eat one Thanksgiving meal and feel satisfied all day without a nap and without stretchy pants. On keto, I don't end the "joyful" holidays having gained 5 lbs (2 kg). In fact, I lost 6 pounds (3 kg) during my first keto holiday season (in 2013)!
Plus, I was gifted smaller pants that I could actually wear. More importantly, I focused on talking to others more than hanging around the food tables.
And unlike previous years, I smiled front and center in photos with my kids. For the first time ever, we took Christmas morning pajama photos because I could finally fit in matching ones without plus sizes! How's that for joy?
This will be our 7th holiday season on keto. Fa la la la la, there's true joy in the journey!
