You just got back from a wonderful holiday break, and now you’re thinking about the dreaded post-holiday weigh in. Are you contemplating enforcing a strict diet to counteract any potential weight gain? As a menopause coach supporting women in midlife, I would suggest a little perspective and a different approach with these post holiday reset tips.
Understanding Your Post-Holiday Body
Midlife women are notorious for the post-holiday weigh in and then enforcing a strict diet. But let’s offer a little perspective and a different approach. You haven’t gained 8lbs during your break. You may have some water retention and bloating from excess alcohol and salt. Even the flight can have an impact on this. You’ve probably eaten a little more than usual and may be a little constipated, so this is still moving through your system.
Remember, it’s normal for weight to fluctuate. In the grand scheme of things, your one week of holiday really won’t have made a big difference to your overall picture.
The True Value of Holidays
Holidays are fantastic for your health and wellbeing, for connecting with your friends and family and the perfect opportunity to relax and enjoy food. You should not feel guilty about this. You do not need a diet.
Ease Back into Routine
Instead, begin to put the basics back into place. Ease your way back into routine and listen to your body. Most likely, you will naturally balance things out with your food choices. Your body inherently knows what it needs.
The following five tips for a post-holiday reset will set you up for success and have you feeling great in no time. No punishing diets required!
Reduce Alcohol Consumption:
Many of us consume more alcohol than usual while on holiday. Ease back to your usual levels or, at a minimum, have three consecutive alcohol-free days
Increase Water Consumption:
Keep a water bottle handy to sip from throughout the day. Dehydration plays havoc with your menopause symptoms. Banish brain fog and ease headaches by filling a water bottle and sipping throughout the day. This will help keep your bowel movements regular and contribute to a reduction in symptoms too.
Prioritise Sleep:
When we are tired, we make poor food choices. The hormones that regulate hunger also become out of balance. This drives us to consume more high-fat, high-sugar foods. Better sleep should lead you to gain better control of cravings and your appetite
Incorporate Enjoyable Movement:
Much of your time has probably been spent on a sun lounger beside the pool. Ease yourself back into your routine. Go for a walk. A short, easy run. Pilates or gentle yoga. Just don’t throw yourself back in full throttle. Think ease and joy.
Plan Your Meals:
This doesn’t need to be a full week. Plan a few days’ worth of meals you enjoy, including lots of plant-based variety and protein. Focus on quick and easy recipes, that leave leftovers for the next day’s lunch.
Final Thoughts..
Forget restrictive diets. Put the basics back into place and ease yourself into feeling great. Remember, long-term change takes time, but when you create habits that are easy and enjoyable, they simply become part of your life, crowding out old negative behaviours. If you want to feel magnificent in midlife and get control of lifestyle factors that are making your menopause symptoms worse, I’m here to help. Let’s chat!