Guys! We are 19 days away from Christmas and I can hardly wait. I’m doing a bunch of illustration work right now but there isn’t much that I can share since most have been commissioned for gifts. So I thought I’d do a quick recap of the holiday and also a #finebyforty check-in, considering this is the hardest time if year to stay on goal.
Stuffed and Thankful
Despite the marathon of social gatherings, this Thanksgiving left me feeling recharged. It was a lot of time with the folks I love, just stuffing our faces, talking, laughing and playing games. As things wound down, I sat with my people and we talked about how slow and relaxed the holiday had been and how nice it was. Of course the hot apple cider spiked with Fireball probably didn’t hurt either. :)
This sweet old kitchen is tired, but she served a lot of hot meals over the holiday. It’s one of the crowd-favorite gathering spaces in my house and always feels cozy and inviting. It’s also her last Thanksgiving holiday; renovations start in early 2020 and she’s going to be a whole different lady after we’re done. It’s a little bittersweet because I already have so many memories in this space.
Stuffed and Focused
I made it known to everyone that I was going to EAT this Thanksgiving. Changing my habits and maintaining a sensible diet (with occasional cheats) hasn’t been that difficult. But there was no way I was going to count calories, carbs or cut back on Cool Whip.
And I ate. And I ate. I had everything I normally would - turkey, ham, steak, roast, mashed potatoes, baked potatoes, stuffing, bread, mac and cheese, chicken and dumplings, pie. cookies,. cake, brownies, more pie. I ate what I wanted, when I wanted and I enjoyed the holiday with my tribe. I did eat less in general though because, after months of cleaner eating, I just don’t have the room to put it away like I used to.
And, after all of that, I’m happy to report that I lost a half pound. I didn’t gain a single ounce, even stuffing myself silly. And here is the reason I was able to stay on track with my progress, despite derailing my diet…
I worked my ass off at the gym. Every single day (or night).
Knowing that I wasn’t going to over-think my food choices during the extended holiday, I made a plan to compensate and remain on track:
I drank a ton of water.
I hit the gym 7 days a week instead of 5.
Instead of doing a 10 minute cardio warm-up before lifting, I did 40 minutes every day on the treadmill, elliptical or bike and then lifted.
I raised my active burn calorie target from 800 to 1,500, and then I surpassed it every day.
I increased the difficulty of my lifting to keep the burn going.
I didn’t make excuses. My friends left my house at 1:30 AM on Friday and I was at the gym by 1:45 AM, getting my time in.
This isn’t a short-term plan for me or a fad diet. I’m not looking to shed a few pounds quickly. In fact, weight loss has never been my focus. I’ve been working to increase muscle mass, flexibility and athleticism. My goal is to be stronger and healthier. Clean eating, practicing yoga and working out are part of my daily life now, like any other routine. I didn’t want to worry about what I was eating over Thanksgiving and I didn’t want to feel guilty for indulging. So I planned for it and adjusted accordingly to maintain my progress. It wasn’t easy, but I got it done.
Pumpkin is a Fruit
What also helped? Knowing Pumpkin is actually a fruit, guys. So, when you eat an entire pumpkin pie in a day, you’re basically doing a fruit cleanse. Add a whole container of Cool Whip to the top (for dairy) and you’re cleansing while strengthening your bones.
…and that’s science, folks. #themoreyouknow
I’m thankful so many people are following along on this journey with me (and even checking in on my progress). Y’all are the sweetest and I promise to keep you updated! I want to also thank my friends and family who kept asking if I was sure I needed that 4th slice of pie. I was and I did. But that was was really helpful :)
I hope you guys had a hashtag blessed Thanksgiving! I have a couple non-surprise illustrations that I’ll be back to share with you next week. Talk to you soon!