Survive and Thrive This Holiday Season
5 Holiday Tips To Help You Avoid The Extra Pounds And Stress
The holidays are a beautiful time of the year, a time for connections, warm meals, friends, family traditions, sparkling lights, and the joy of coming together.
And yes, they can also bring something else ... pressure!
Pressure to do it all, eat it all, host it all, and somehow stay balanced in the middle of it all. In addition, many of us also approach this season with a certain amount of anxiety ... fears of overeating, weight gain, or feeling “off track.”
NOTE: (If you're currently following the Ideal Protein Protocol, don't worry, your coach can help you craft a personalized plan so you too can enjoy this and any holiday season without guilt!)
Over the years, many people have told me they either “give up completely” during the holidays or try to be overly strict, only to feel discouraged later.
But balance doesn’t come from perfection. It comes from intention, consistency, and listening to our body — especially during a busy season.
To help you, following are a few gentle, practical ways to enjoy everything the holidays offer without the 5 or 10 extra pounds, or the stress that often goes with it. I believe the Holidays are meant for joy, not guilt.
Five proven ways to stay balanced and still enjoy every bite. These are the same things I do myself, and they really do make a world of difference:
🌿 1. Start With Intention
It could be simply to start you day with how you want to feel.
- Light
- Calm
- Grounded
- Energized
- Clear
Even asking yourself just one quick question each morning — “What’s my intention for today?” anchors the entire day. This naturally changes how you move through the day.
When we lead with intention rather than rules, choices feel easier. Have you ever set an intention … before the food, before the parties, before the travel? Then, it’s no longer about “I should eat or avoid” — it becomes:
“What helps me feel the way I want to feel”
💧 2. Keep Your Non-Negotiables
This is one of my core philosophies, and especially during the holidays, it’s essential. Non-negotiables are the supportive habits you keep no matter what:
- Your herbs
- Your water
- Your daily walk
- Your morning routine
- Or whatever keeps your body steady
When fun foods happen (and they will – and it is ok, NO guilt!), these non-negotiables salvage the day. They keep the body from going into that “free-for-all” spiral where everything feels off the rails.
A body that feels supported handles indulgence far better than a body running on empty:
"It’s not about restriction — it’s about consistency"
🥜 3. Smart Snacks Save the Day
Here’s a tip that has saved me every holiday season for decades. I always keep raw nuts, seeds, or raw veggies with me whether I’m shopping, running errands, or heading to an event.
When your blood sugar is steady and you’re not overly hungry, you make more empowered choices. You’re not arriving somewhere famished, grabbing whatever is closest, or overeating because your body is simply trying to catch up.
This one simple habit prevents craving spirals, helps digestion, and keeps your energy levelled. A handful of raw almonds or pumpkin seeds can change the entire evening ahead by:
"Avoiding overindulgence with a healthy snack first"
🥗 4. Choose What You Truly Love
Holiday tables are full — and often overwhelming. It’s easy to fall into the pattern of tasting “just a bit” of everything, even the foods you don’t actually enjoy. This year, do something different:
✨ Choose only what you truly love
✨ Skip the fillers
✨ Savour the favourites that make you smile
Let me share a personal example ... back in the 1980s, I had an extraordinarily strong sweet tooth which I intentionally choose to address for obvious reasons! Today and for the past 30+ years I have followed one simple rule on sweets:
"If a dessert isn’t truly decadent, I’m not finishing it"
It’s simply not worth it. Sometimes I’ll even ask my husband to taste it first and tell me if it’s “decadent enough.” I trust him to tell me the truth so he doesn’t keep the best ones for himself! It makes us laugh every time.
It helps me enjoy what I love without overdoing what doesn’t actually bring joy. You don’t need to earn your food, or compensate for it, simply choosing with awareness creates natural balance.
When you enjoy what you love intentionally, overeating becomes far less likely.
🌿 5. Support Digestion & Calm
Your digestive system works harder during the holidays — richer meals, social events, different routines, and less predictable timing.
Supporting digestion isn’t about restriction. It’s about helping the body do what it’s designed to do. Some of my favourite tools include:
- Garden Essence — wonderful support before or after meals — especially when you’re feeling gassy, burpy, bloated, uncomfortable, or simply too full
- Body Detox or Bwl-Bld — keeping things moving
- Chlorophyll — gentle hydration from morning to night
- LIV-A — my go-to gentle liver support, especially before events
Taking your herbs before meals or gatherings gives your body an incredible head start. Many clients tell me it completely changes how they feel the next morning — clearer, lighter, and more balanced so:
"Supporting digestion isn’t about restriction"
😴 Rest, Reset & Restore
This season is not just physically full — it’s emotionally full.
That’s why rest matters just as much as food choices. A calm nervous system helps you digest better, crave less, and sleep more deeply. Two gentle herbal allies I love:
- Herbal Calm – the name says it all
- Zerenity – feeling “Zen” + “Serene”
A quiet, grounded system profoundly changes everything — from hormones and metabolism to mood and energy.
💚 A Gentle Reminder
The holidays aren’t a test. They aren’t something to “get through” so you can start over in January. They are a season to savour — body, mind, and spirit.
- Be kind to yourself
- Choose what nourishes you
- Enjoy the foods you love
- Keep the habits that steady you
- And most of all …
Enjoy this special time of year!
Thank you for allowing us to be part of your journey. xoxo