Happy Christmas! Oh! I love this time of year. Everything just seems so extra cozy. Everyone is so full of smiles and cheer! And if they are not then you look directly at them and smile extra big! I bet dollars to donuts they will smile back. I know this is not the best time of the year for everyone and sometimes some people just need someone to see them and give them a smile. You can be that person!
This time of year one of the most popular words that floats around is stress. What is it about the holidays that makes people feel they need to be perfect. The perfect décor, the perfect meals, the perfect treats, the perfect outfits and do not forget the most perfect gifts. I have to admit that I feel the pressure from tv commercials, magazines ads and social media. I am not going to deny that I would love to have that porch and that mantle and that tree just dripping with the most excellent of decorations. To cook the meal that people just drool over and to be able to slip that little black dress on for New Years Eve and look like a million bucks. For most that pressure is just too much and it ends up making us feel like if we don’t have all that then we have not succeeded.
Do but don’t do these 6 things
There are many reasons that people stress these last few months of the year and especially this month. No matter what it is, I don’t want that for you. My Christmas wish is for everyone to feel light and to be merry. It is possible for this to happen. Here are 6 things that we don’t need to do in the month of December.
1. Don’t try to NOT eat all the goodies. Allow yourself some grace and have a goodie or two. Fully enjoy it and then move on. Denying all the goodies that you love will backfire and you may find yourself overindulging.
2. Don’t try express dieting. No pill or potion is going to help you lose the weight safely and get you into that little black dress for the Christmas party or New Year Eve. A clear plan filled with nutritious whole foods and intentional movement will put you on the path to success.
3. Don’t overwhelm yourself and feel as though you have to do everything for everybody. There is no need to host multiple parties, make all the foods and bake all the treats for everything that comes up. If in fact you have been the one to do that in the past, scale back and ask for help.
4. Don’t stress over the fact that you can’t buy the most expensive gifts. Gifts are great as long as you are giving with a cheerful heart. If you feel as though you have to break the bank for all the things, please remember that this season is about joy and not bank accounts. Again scale back, your loved ones will appreciate you no matter the cost of the gift.
5. Don’t forget to smile and be kind. This is the season of Joy. We are all going through things that others don’t know about. You could be standing in line with someone at the store who is having the best day or the worst day. You do not know, so you need to be kind. Your smile could save a life.
6. Don’t forget the true meaning of Christmas. Hint, it’s not about receiving. It’s about giving from
your heart. Just like in number 4 above, it is not about the cost of things. It is about your heart. Material items are great, but the gift of your time is priceless. Try serving those in need, volunteering at your church or a senior care center (imagining their smiles makes me smile). The gift of your time will far outlast the material gift.
Oh yeah and one more thing, don’t make any promises to yourself that you are going to do better with your health in January. Do something really simple and start now. Go back through the past year’s articles and gather all the moves of the month and start incorporating them into your life. When you are ready to take it up a notch, reach out to me and I will introduce you to 1000s of workouts and mapped out programs that we can do together. Adding in this move of month, will give you 12 moves that will make a great workout!
Move of the Month: AMRAP
AMRAP stands for As Many Reps(Rounds) As Possible. There are 4 moves, you will do 4 reps of the first 3 moves and the last one is 20 reps. Set your timer for 4 minutes and after you finish the first round, make a mark on paper, white or chalk board. Here are the moves:
1. Skier Jumps (4) Just like skiing, stand with your feet together at angle, knees are slightly bent and jump to the other side. Imagine a triangle, you are one corner of the base with your feet pointing toward the tip, now jump with your feet together to the other corner. To modify this, you will do a little hop, one foot followed by other foot. This will help take the pressure off your knees.
2. Wide out punch (4) Stand with your feet wider than hip width apart, squat down and punch left, right, left right.
3. Double Cross Jumps (4) Stand with your feet shoulder width apart. Bring your left knee up and cross your right elbow to meet it, repeat with your right knee and left elbow, with both feet on the ground squat, then jump up. Repeat. To modify this, do not jump at the squat, raise up on your toes.
4. Jump Rope (20) Air jump rope for 20 jumps. To modify this, start with your feet together then step our for right foot, then your left foot, step back in (that is 1 rep).
When you get to the end of the 20 jumps. Make a mark on your paper or board and repeat from the first move. Do this for 4 minutes. Record your total, make sure to write down how far you made it through the moves at the end. Example, you did 5 full rounds and then 4 skier jumps and 2 wide out punches. Keep this record and when you do this again, try to beat your score!
Recipe of the Month: 2 ingredient Nut Clusters
This is the most simple of all recipes. You need 2 ingredients, your favorite nut of choice and chocolate.
Roast the nuts for a better flavor. You can roast in the oven or even on the stove. Melt your chocolate. Mix the nuts in with the chocolate, spoon onto parchment paper and let harden. Store in the fridge, so they don’t melt on the counter. Have 1 or 2 to satisfy your sweet cravings. Great to bring to parties! Top some with a sprinkle of course salt or maybe even a few sprinkles. I like to coarsely chop the nuts. To take it up a notch, try using more than one kind of nut. I like almonds, pecan and walnuts!
Now go and make the most of the season by spreading joy and kindness to everyone!
As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me. Starting and navigating a new journey can be intimidating and overwhelming. Working with someone who has been in your shoes is extremely helpful and encouraging. Journeys are better when in the company of others.
Jilisa Ghareeb has been a Beachbody coach for 6 years. Her favorite part of being involved with fitness and nutrition is watching her clients change and open up a whole new world. As a coach, she is able to help others by introducing them to a change that is often scary, intimidating, and full of “what ifs” to an encouraging and inspirational lifestyle full of “I cans”. She uses her own story to show others that everything is possible with hard work and determination. If you’re interested in reaching out to Jilisa for more information you can contact her via email, on Instagram, or Facebook.
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