It’s January 7th—the holiday season is official over. I know, I know, grab your tissues and wipe those tears. Believe me, I’ve been gallivanting around the U.S. enjoying a semi-break from reality veryyy much, so I’m right there with you in the complaints, withdrawals, and chubby tummies.

It seems like despite our greatest efforts, we get caught up in the holiday rush. We get excited to eat, drink, and be merry, and we sometimes slip up and let our healthy-ness go to the wayside.

If you’re on the same page, this is what I want you to know:

1. You’re fine.
2. It’s all about the portions.

Sooooo many people talk about the benefits of exercise and how working out can change your life and body. And they’re totally right…but not if you don’t change a single thing in your diet!

Listen—here’s the hold, hard truth—if you don’t work on your diet, no matter how dedicated you are to the gym (okay, unless you’re super hardcore or a bodybuilder) you’re not going to get the results you want. That sucks, but it’s the honest-to-goodness truth.

So, what do you do? Portion control.

One of the biggest problems with trying to lead a healthy lifestyle is the aspect of dieting. Too often people swing to polar opposite sides of the pendulum—either eating excessive amounts at limited times, or trying to restrict themselves to barely anything. Neither of these are good options.

You can’t have an effective diet by suddenly lowering your food intake tremendously. You’ll be hungry, irritable, frustrated and uncomfortable. Same goes for the reverse—you can’t over-stuff yourself under the guise of ‘only eating twice a day’ or something of that nature.

The truth is, dieting isn’t about changing everything. It’s about learning what are healthy portions for you.

First, start by reading the labels on the food you consume.

How many people does that box of rice serve? How many servings are the recommended size? I’m not saying you have to follow these suggestions religiously, but if you want results, you must be conscious of portions and try to limit yourself where necessary.

Doesn’t sound reasonable? Try snacking.

Try to limit your main meals as best you can, but supplement throughout the day with healthy snacks—almonds, fruit, granola and yogurt, veggies, etc. That way you won’t feel starved, and you can give your body the constant nutrition and energy it needs.

Not sure how exactly to portion yourself? Challenge & Prep.

If you’re out to eat, challenge yourself to get a takeout box instead of finishing you entire meal. Eating at home? Meal prep. That way you can set aside the right amounts. (For example: a chicken breast, 2 cups veggies, and one cup rice for a balanced, portioned meal.)

Remember: New Year, new you. (All clichés aside.)

You can do this, but first you must make an effort to limit your portion sizes. The more aware you are of your food intake, the better your end results will be! Happy eating!

 

 

— Photo Credit: Rachel Walker