Maintaining Not Gaining: Everything is Going to Be All Right.

Maintaining Not Gaining: 

Everything is Going to Be All Right.

All right, my friends...we've made it through the first week of December. Hanukkah has begun and the laundry list of Holidays to follow are nipping at our heels. Also, my birthday was on Friday, so there was no way I was going to act like a responsible eater until after I had me some CAKE. 

Girl has got to have priorities.

This can be a busy, stressful, joyous, indulgent, chaotic, sleepless,  wonderful perfectly/not-so-perfectly organized mess of a time! We have learned in the past that all of these feelings and factors can have us looking to our comfort foods and quick-fix treats to make us feel better. We've just made it through The Whole28.5 Challenge and we have a handful of awesome HABITS in our arsenal to help us from diving directly into Santa's Cookies after demolishing the casserole of candied yams. But just because we made it through a Challenge...doesn't mean this time of year isn't challenging! Now is the time that we could all probably use a little reminder here and there to keep us on track, as well as a pat on the back when we've done something good for our bodies. 

Thus, I introduce to you this new helpful series:

Maintaining Not Gaining!

Said with a smile.

A short and sweet series of suggestions, tips, and motivations to get us all through the holidays. These posts will be intended to give you a little boost of knowledge or strength when you're preparing for those holiday parties, making dinners, and baking your buns off for the season! Thoughts and strategies for your daily eating as well as your party etiquette. We're going to get through this together, and when that New Year's Baby wails us awake into 2016, we won't be working off the pounds of the past few weeks.

So let's start easy today.

Maintaining Not Gaining Tip #1 - Don't Throw Meal Prep Out The Window

We worked so hard during The Whole28.5 Challenge mastering the magic that is The Meal Prep. To this day, cooking for the week is my Suit of Armor.  It asks me to be strong, intelligent, and mindful of what I intend to put in my body for the week and make the choice AHEAD OF TIME to eat well. Not to have those "well, there's nothing to eat..." moments of weakness. Because trust me, once that meddling little thought pops into my brain, its SO hard to stay on track.

So don't derail the train before it's left the station, if you know what I mean! Get your head, your menu, and your plans in order. Yes, things may deviate. But your path will stay far truer, if you start out with the right directions.

Sunday, even after birthday debauchery, I made sure to prep up chicken thighs, sautéed broccoli, green beans with leeks, taco meat, and sausage with peppers, onions, and sauerkraut. BOOM. We are going to disregard the French Toast I made us for breakfast...that was still within "birthday weekend."

To that point...I have no photos of food prep, but I do have this before and after:

It was birthday, ya'll.

Until next time, remember:

Guys, we're doing awesome.

- Be cool, Soda Pop -

Please submit your "Holiday Homeostasis" tips, suggestions or stories, as a comment here on the blog or email me at Rachel@RachelPinkstone.com