Christmas overindulgence

 

ALONG with other things I really dislike about the Christmas period, the need to gorge and indulge in blatant face-stuffing is the biggie for me.

Being a nutritionist and wellness coach, eating a healthy balanced diet for life is what I preach day in day out.

CHRISTMAS DAY is just one day of the year, one day only! And yet it seems that most people are quite happy to eat in excess of their daily calories, and very bad food choices over a number of weeks before and after the actual day. It's excessive and so very bad for your health.

MOST adults have at least one Christmas work event that involves food and drink, and then there are friends and family events too. Each bringing an overloaded calorie intake of at least THREE TIMES your daily amount. No exercise is going to burn that lot off no matter how hard you try.

LET'S talk about alcohol consumption! Now, if you have read my other blogs you will know that as of the 20th December this year, I will be FIVE YEARS alcohol free! A soberista for five years! And without going into all the nasty things that can happen when you drink alcohol, the calories involved in just one glass of wine are huge. It's about the same as a MARS bar. Add several glasses into an evening of starter, main course and pudding, you could seriously be totalling up about 3-4k calories in just one Christmas event. Whether you are active or not, you will not be burning that off any time soon. 

DO you consider this at all? I don't believe a lot of people do, I hear the same old thing, 'I can burn it off in January!' and 'It's only once a year!'

That may be the case, but have you considered what you are doing to your body, and in turn, your mental health whilst this excess is going on?

Processed food, carbs, sugar, alcohol, caffeine to get through the hangovers, ALL the bad things are happening and your body, your organs have to process all these toxins, these poisons to try and keep you healthy and balanced. Do you think of this? Do you care what damage you are doing? Or, like others, do you just think that because it's only once a year (although it probably isn't, is it!) it's okay?

The problem with detoxing poisons from your system is that it also affects your mental health, your mood, and this leads to anxiety, feelings of depression, and ultimately this is when arguments happen, conflict occurs and Christmas gets ruined for some families. When alcohol hits you, remember, it's a depressant, the first mouthful, even maybe the first glass may make you feel better and more positive initially, that's how alcohol reels you in, after that it's a massive depressive hit. That goes on into the next day, and the next, and when you have the 'hair of the dog' because, 'it's Christmas' then the rollercoaster of depression rolls on.

WELL, this all sounds very depressing in itself, am I trying to ruin Christmas for you? Absolutely not, but I am trying to make you aware of the reality that is food and alcohol excess. Too many processed foods, sugar and carbohydrates will affect your mental and physical health, it's a fact. You can ignore it as much as you like but it's the truth. 

THIS CHRISTMAS, listen to your body.

AVOID excess of the bad things.

TREAT yourself in MODERATION!

DO GOOD THINGS over Christmas too, drink more water, exercise in your time off work, spend time on your mental health, do something positive for yourself.

BALANCE not EXCESS, that is the key.

I hope that you do think about what I've written today, it will make a huge difference to you and your family over the festive period.