Don't Give Up What You Want MOST for What You Want RIGHT NOW!
Don't Give Up What You Want Most for What You Want Right Now
Don't Give Up What You Want MOST for What You Want RIGHT NOW!
The holidays are coming, and so are all the extras!
Halloween candy, Thanksgiving dinners, Christmas cookies, holiday parties, cocktails, appetizers, desserts, and treats that seem to appear everywhere we turn.
And let's not forget vacations, restaurant meals, family gatherings, and those ordinary Tuesdays when someone brings donuts to the office!
We live in a world where something extra is almost always available.
But here's a question I want you to think about:
Are you willing to give up what you want MOST for something you want in the MOMENT?
Now, before you think I'm going to tell you to skip the pumpkin pie, pass on the Christmas cookies, or pack carrot sticks for your vacation, you know me better than that!
I'm all about enjoying life. Food is part of our celebrations, traditions, and memories. And I certainly don't believe we need to give those things up to live a healthy lifestyle.
But I DO believe we need to learn the difference between enjoying something because we truly want it and having something simply because it's there.
Just Because It's Available Doesn't Mean You Need It!
Think about the last time you walked past a bowl of candy.
Did you really want a piece? Or did you grab one because it was sitting there?
How about the breadbasket at a restaurant? The appetizers at a party? The second helping at Thanksgiving?
Or my favorite example, the vacation buffet!
There it is. An endless selection of food, and suddenly we feel like we need to try everything.
Why?
Because it's included? Because we paid for it? Because we might not see it again?
Here's something worth remembering:
You don't have to eat everything available to get your money's worth, and you don't have to eat everything offered to enjoy the experience.
Sometimes the best choice is simply to ask yourself, "Do I really want this?"
And if the answer is YES, enjoy it!
If the answer is no, move along. You aren't missing out on anything.
What Is It You Want MOST?
This is where I want you to look beyond the number on the scale.
Maybe what you want most is to:
Feel comfortable and confident in your clothes.
Have more energy to enjoy your family.
Improve your health and feel stronger.
Sleep better and wake up feeling good.
Maintain the progress you've worked so hard to achieve.
Feel in control of your choices instead of feeling like food is controlling you.
Those are pretty wonderful things to want!
And here's the catch. We don't achieve them with one perfect day, one perfect meal, or one perfect week.
We achieve them through the choices we make over and over again.
The little things matter.
The Holidays Don't Have to Be an All-or-Nothing Experience
I hear it every year.
"I'll get back on track after Thanksgiving."
"There's no point starting now. Christmas is coming."
"I'll worry about it when I get home from vacation."
And of course, the famous one:
"I'll start again in January!"
But why?
Why would we put our health on hold for six weeks, two weeks, or even a weekend?
What if we stopped looking at the holidays and vacations as time OFF from healthy living and started looking at them as part of our healthy life?
You can enjoy Thanksgiving dinner AND take a walk.
You can have your favorite Christmas cookie AND eat a nutritious breakfast.
You can enjoy a wonderful vacation meal AND stop eating when you're comfortably satisfied.
You can celebrate without turning every celebration into a free-for-all.
Healthy living isn't something we do only when life is quiet and convenient. It's something we learn to do WHILE we're living our lives!
Sometimes the Moment Wins, and That's Okay!
I want to be very clear about something.
There will be times when you choose the dessert, the extra glass of wine, or the lazy afternoon instead of the workout.
And that's okay!
One choice doesn't undo your progress.
But there is a big difference between making a conscious choice and simply going along with whatever is in front of you.
Maybe Grandma makes your favorite pie once a year. You absolutely want a piece.
Wonderful! Enjoy every bite.
But do you really need the grocery store cookies sitting in the break room just because someone brought them?
Probably not.
That's the difference I'm talking about.
It's not about saying NO to everything.
It's about learning when to say YES to what really matters.
Your Future Self Gets a Vote, Too!
Here's a little trick I love.
Before making a choice, especially one that might pull you away from your goals, ask yourself:
"How will I feel about this choice tomorrow?"
Not because you should feel guilty.
Not because you need to earn your food.
But because the YOU of tomorrow deserves some consideration, too!
Will you be glad you enjoyed that special dinner with your family? Probably!
Will you be glad you ate half a bag of candy while watching television without even realizing it? Maybe not.
Will you be happy you took 20 minutes to move your body while on vacation? Quite possibly!
This isn't about deprivation. It's about making choices that support BOTH the life you're enjoying today and the life you're building for tomorrow.
Remember the Power of Small Choices
One of the things I teach through my Power of 13 is that healthy living doesn't need to be complicated.
We don't need to overhaul our lives every Monday.
We need to build habits that make healthy choices easier, even when life gets busy.
And this time of year is a wonderful opportunity to practice!
Maybe you decide to keep your regular breakfast routine during the holidays.
Maybe you make movement a priority, even if it's only 10 or 15 minutes.
Maybe you slow down while eating and actually taste the foods you love.
Maybe you choose your favorite holiday treats instead of sampling everything that crosses your path.
None of these choices requires perfection.
They simply require a little thought and intention.
And those small choices add up!
Let's Finish the Year Feeling Good!
As we head into the busiest time of the year, I want you to remember something.
You don't have to choose between enjoying the season and taking care of yourself.
You can do BOTH.
You can enjoy the parties, the traditions, the vacations, the special meals, and the time with people you love.
And you can continue making choices that support your health.
The goal isn't to get through the holidays without eating a cookie.
The goal is to come out on the other side feeling good about how you treated yourself, physically AND emotionally.
So the next time something tempting is sitting in front of you, give yourself just a moment to think.
Is this something I really want, or is it simply something available right now?
Sometimes you'll say yes. Sometimes you'll say no.
And both can be perfectly good choices.
Just don't lose sight of what you want MOST because of everything that's available in the moment.
Remember, we're not on a diet with a beginning and an end.
We're building a healthy lifestyle that includes ALL of life!
Keep Showing Up! 💜
Ready to Make Your Health a Priority?
Healthy living doesn't have to be complicated, and you certainly don't have to figure it all out on your own!
Whether you're looking to simplify your routine, build healthier habits, find balance, or just need a little support and accountability, I'm here to help you find what works for YOU.
💜 Let's get started!
Looking for a little guidance you can work through at your own pace?
Explore my Power of 13 resources. A common-sense approach to building a healthier lifestyle, one choice at a time.
Remember, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to healthy living. The goal is to find YOUR easiest way to health.
I am Always On Your Side,
Coach Paris 💜💚
Empowering You to Live With Intention.
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