Be it the holidays or a vacation filled to the brim with activities and indulgence, it can be hard to feel like yourself once you’re back to reality. Usually, we feel a little sluggish and “blah” when we return to our normal routine. Can you relate? If so, you’ll enjoy today’s quick post. We’re sharing 5 tips for bouncing back after the holidays … and starting your new year on the right foot!
Tip #1: Show some love to your digestive system as it works to detox!
Get it working first thing in the morning with one of our favorite mixes:
-Squeeze of ½ to 1 lemon
-Pinch of cayenne pepper
-Warm water (1 part hot, 1 part room temp/cold)
-Optional: add 2-3 teaspoons of Apple Cider Vinegar (not conclusively confirmed, but it’s been touted in recent years to help with blood sugar regulation)
Sip through a straw and enjoy before you start the day!
Tip #2: Smoothies, anyone?
We’re all for solid, delicious meals – but sometimes we crave a good ol’ fashioned smoothie! Smoothies are an excellent way to pack a 1-2 punch in the nutrient department quickly. This also provides a needed break for your digestive system season post-holidays. We suggest incorporating a smoothie for one meal (whichever meal you choose) for seven days to help create a “light” detox effect. Two of our favorite recipes:
Banana Chocolate Yumminess
-8 ounces unsweetened vanilla almond milk
-1 to 2 tbsp almond or nut butter of choice
-1 tsp vanilla extract
-1 scoop Vega chocolate protein powder (YUM – available at our studio – members get an automatic discount!)
-1 frozen banana
-OPTIONAL: handful of ice (not too much though – don’t want it to turn out chunky)
Tropical Tango Punch
-8 ounces unsweetened vanilla almond milk
-1 to 2 tbsp almond or nut butter of choice
-1 tsp vanilla extract
-1 scoop Vega tropical protein powder (also available at our studio!)
-¾ to 1 cup frozen strawberries
Mmmm mmmm good. We LOVE these smoothie recipes and know you will, too!
Tip #3: Get moving!
It’s no secret that consistent exercise mixed with a healthy diet is the only real “fountain of youth” that exists (no matter what you’ve been told). And youth aside, exercise is also SUPER beneficial for your metabolism + hormones! We could all use some more balance in the hormone department – so many things that throw things out of whack these days! As much as you’d like to lounge on the couch (the holidays tend to do that), make it a point to get up and sweat for at least 30 minutes! Better yet, make it a social affair – round up 3-5 friends to do it with you OR send a group text where everyone checks in after they’ve completed at least 30 minutes!
Tip #4: Load up on probiotics!
Your gut loves you. You just need to love it back! When you treat it well, it will reward you with better mental clarity, less mood swings, better digestion … you name it. It’s emerging as a true super power in the health department, so don’t neglect it. We always recommend taking a quality probiotic, but also recommend showin’ your gut some love in other ways:
-Kombucha: this fermented fizzy drink tastes great AND has quality probiotics with bacteria (the good kind) your gut will thank you for. Check out our post all about kombucha here.
-Kimchi, saurkraut, kefir – all excellent for gut health. Adorn your meals with them freely.
-Stress less – yes, stress plays a HUGE role in gut issues and can even lead to something called leaky gut. What is leaky gut? Essentially, think of it like a mesh filter where suddenly undigested proteins and fats leak into your bloodstream due to “holes” in that mesh filter that shouldn’t be there. This causes all sorts of issues with your health and can put a grinding halt to weight loss.
Would you be interested in a blog post about what leaky gut is and how to heal it? Let us know in the comments! When it comes to stress, adopt a “is this worth worrying about?” mindset. 9/10 times it’s probably not – so use your vital daily brain power on things better suited for your life vision!
Tip #5: Go easy on yourself.
Don’t spend two weeks freaking out over your holiday decisions. You had fun, you enjoyed it – now get back to business! No use causing yourself unnecessary worry and stress over the past. It’s time to move forward and to do so with determination and a strong mindset, one that’s not deterred by the small stuff. Ironically, it’s this self deprecating mindset that creates the very cycle we’re looking to escape! We get all “woe is me”, feel annoyed that we’re in woe-is-me mode, self medicate with unhealthy habits and then wonder why we can’t seem to get back on track. Don’t keep yourself down. Elevate yourself. Think bigger picture.
Your Challenge: implement at least one of the tips above into your life ASAP! Which one will it be? Let us know in the comments. Also, as mentioned above, let us know below if you’d be interested in a blog post on what leaky gut is and how to heal it!
P.S. Ready to ROCK your new year? Season 13 of our Get Fit challenge (including our Cleanse30 nutrition reset) starts up next year. Get on the waiting list here.
Until Next Time,
Sham & Christina
About Inspired Wellness
We are a wellness movement aimed at cultivating greatness in all areas of life. We believe that everything is connected and that having the body of your dreams shouldn’t come at the price of your mental and emotional health. You CAN have it all; you just need some determination, grit and the desire to truly change your life!
Catch us locally in sunny Sacramento CA inspiring lives at our wellness center with fitness, nutrition and lifestyle programs, or online doing the same thing with our new online training site + community coming soon!
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4 Comments
Hmm. Going to have to try the lemon/cayenne/ACV water.
Been adding lemon juice in my water but haven’t felt like adding Cayenne yet but I will try it tomorrow. A friend suggested trying apple cider vinegar with sparkling mineral water. Definitely makes it easier to drink similar to kombucha. Fermented food definitely helps. ?
I would be interested in learning more about “leaky gut”. Anytime I am stressed, I get the worst stomach ache. Sometimes it’s so bad that I start to wonder if I have the flu even! Its reassuring to read that this is likely caused by my stress. I definitely will be trying the tips in this blog!
Probiotics are such a big one. My digestive system is very sensitive since having my gall bladder removed a couple of year ago. I have to be extra careful and a probiotic definitely helps. Over the holidays, I over did it on Thanksgiving and immediately threw up within hours of dinner. Then felt like death the next day. It is so important to know our digestive limits and take care of our bodies.