exercise addiction

'Tis the Season NOT To YO-YO Diet: A Guide to Intuitive Eating During the Holidays

'Tis the Season NOT To YO-YO Diet: A Guide to Intuitive Eating During the Holidays

The holidays are a time of joy and celebration.  They are a time for us to give, to be inspired, and to be thankful for all we have.  To that end, most of us view the holidays with tremendous fondness.  However, even for those of us who love and look forward to the holiday season, it can still present challenges.  It always seems that there is too much to do and too little time.  We juggle our over-packed schedules, trying to find time for all of the family gatherings, work functions, events for the kids.  We travel through crowded airports, or make our homes available to travel-weary family members from out of town.  We stress out about buying the perfect gifts for our family and friends, not wanting to disappoint while also trying to manage a budget.  And then…there is the food!!! Most of us can’t think about the holiday season without also visualizing an endless line of cookies, pies, fruitcake, and on and on.  The combination of holidays and food might not be a trigger for some, but for a wide population, food-related stress, anxiety or guilt can be as synonymous with the holidays as all of the wonderful and positive memories of the season. 

Make Movement Fun Again!

Make Movement Fun Again!

How many of you out there exercise because of the joy it brings you?  Conversely, how many of you out there exercise out of obligation, guilt, or dispassionate routine?  For many of you visiting my blog, I’d guess that you fall into the latter group (i.e. you exercise, not necessarily because you enjoy it, but because you feel obligated to do so for some desired result).  Don’t get me wrong, I think it’s great to exercise because you want to feel and look good.  But when exercise becomes part of a tired obligation, or worse, when it becomes a guilt-driven obsession, that is when it might be time to step back and ask yourself, “Why isn’t this fun anymore?”