Take the time to REALLY enjoy your treats
Someone opens a bag of Easter eggs and you promise yourself you’ll only have one or two. Then before you know it, you’re staring down a packet of empty wrappers. We’ve all been there. When we are distracted watching tv, socialising, barbecuing or playing games, we can be prone to unconsciously overindulging. Challenge yourself this Easter to really, really enjoy your chocolate. Try thinking about the creamy textures, the crunchy chunks, the gooey caramel and just how delicious it tastes. By allowing yourself to actually experience all the flavours and textures, you will become more in tune with your body’s signals of hunger and fullness. This will allow yourself to become more aware of how much chocolate is going to meet your needs, without reaching the point of feeling uncomfortable.
Time to get creative!
Easter doesn’t have to be all about chocolate! If you have young kids, or even if you just want to upgrade your cheese platter, add some colour to the plate with a variety of fruit and vegetables. Grab your bunny and chicken cookie cutters and have fun cutting up your watermelon, rockmelon, apples and pears for an egg-stravagant platter.
Don’t be afraid to ask for support
Sticking to your health goals can be so much easier when the people in your life are supportive of you. So, if you traditionally get gifted with a mountain of eggs, be honest with your loved ones about how they can be supportive and possibly offer ideas of some other gifts which you will be able to enjoy for more than one day (e.g. socks, clothing, Tupperware containers, gardening or exercise equipment).
Find ways to move your body which you enjoy
With some extra time off over the Easter weekend, try and make some time to move your body in a way that will reinvigorate you. Instead of dreading exercise over the weekend, try and see it as a way to spend time with your loved ones, while moving your body. Some ideas could be to host a backyard cricket match, organise a hike and picnic, spend some time in the water, go for a sunrise/sunset walk or have an egg and spoon race.
Just keep hopping along
So, Easter came along and you feel as though you have over indulged, what now? Now is not the time to dwell on the past or to be discouraged from achieving your health goals. It is important to realise that the Easter weekend is one of 52 weekends in the year. Negative self-talk can be more detrimental to your overall health and wellbeing, than the food you have eaten. You do not need to overcompensate, restrict or run a marathon to ‘make up’ for the Easter weekend. Instead, just keep hopping along and focus on doing one thing at your next meal that is going to be supportive of your goals (e.g. add an extra serve of vegetables, focus on variety, or eat mindfully).
No bunny compares to you
While holidays are an excellent time to catch up with friends and family, it is also a time to keep your eyes on your own egg basket. Judgement, comparison and feelings of inadequacy are all common emotions to be experiencing, especially if you are on a similar health journey as those around you. Remember that progress and success is defined differently for everyone and your value is not determined by what those around you are eating, doing in their lives or how their bodies may have changed.
From all of us at The Centre of Digestive Medicine, we wish you an egg-cellent Easter.