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how the magic of the holidays can help you lose weight.

When I think of the holidays, my mind goes to my childhood. Days filled with thick mittens, the possibility of snowball fights, hot cocoa by the fire, and playtime with my cousins on Christmas Eve. I remember moments where I gazed up at the sky to see the stars so clearly, listening as the snow blanketed my yard with silence, and feeling so warm and loved by family.

I never thought about food or obsessed over what I would eat at our Christmas feast. I was so present to the beauty and excitement of each moment that I already felt nourished.

At my time studying at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, I learned a name for this sense of nourishment, Primary Food. The philosophy that we feel a sense of fullness from the parts of our lives that don’t come on our plates. This includes the quality of our relationships, how frequently we exercise, whether or not we have a spiritual practice, our level of job satisfaction, and our overall presence to the beauty of life in general.

As adults, we have a lot of distractions, responsibilities, and stress that often leads to a sense of unhappiness in at least one area of our lives. We tend to obsess over the past, worry about the future, and very rarely soak up the moment we are in. And then, we turn to food for comfort and excitement. Cue unwanted weight gain, digestive issues, and fatigue.

This is a cycle that doesn’t have to persist and the holiday season is a great time to pull ourselves out of these funks by witnessing the beauty of this time of year. Everyone’s spirits are lifted. There are more acts of kindness and generosity. And if we try, we are  able to connect with the excitement we used to feel as kids. All we have to do is start practicing being present. Here’s how:

1. Savor your morning. Instead of starting your day in a rush, give yourself and extra 30 minutes to wake up slowly, sip your coffee, and think about what you’re excited or appreciate about in life right now.

2. Notice your surroundings. As you walk out of your home to begin the day, take stock of your environment. Is there something you love about your yard or your city block that always makes you happy? Is it snowing? Is the sun shining? Notice how beautiful each element is.

3. Focus on what you like about work. More often than not, we complain about our jobs. Our tasks are mundane, our bosses are crazy, and certain situations make us anxious. Instead of harping on what you don’t enjoy, consider what actually do like. Do you have great co-workers you always look forward to seeing? Is there a project you’re really excited to present? Whatever it is, keep your focus on that and your mood will shift.

4. Play. These days play is usually limited to parties and alcohol. It’s time to practice real play again. Skip down the sidewalk (don’t be embarrassed), make a snow angel, or get crafty and make a DIY snow globe. These acts promote feelings of freedom and fun, and they pull us out of our heads and into our spirits.

5. Soak up the festivities. No matter where you live, I’m pretty sure there is a plethora of holiday decor everywhere you go. White lights, evergreen trees, holiday music, and special holiday events. It’s time to immerse yourself in all of it. Notice the beauty, the smells, the sounds, and the feelings provoked by all of the nostalgia.

When you become more present and find appreciation–even adoration–for life as it is right now, the obsession with food and the focus on unhappiness falls away. We’re less likely to grab a gooey donut or overeat at lunch because we are so absorbed in what we are experiencing, much like we did as children.

I’ve been creating a pin board on Pinterest to collect images that feel like Christmas to me and I wanted to share them with you here. May they make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside too. Happy Holidays!

holiday magic