Today I am turning the floor over to a blogger who I connected with from the start. She is a passionate, fashionable and fun loving mother, wife, and woman. If you’ve been following this lovely lady for any length of time, you already know that she has a big beautiful smile, and an even bigger heart.
Without further ado, here is the fabulous, multi-talented, Little Miss Wordy.
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My Cyber Soul Sister at Keeping it Real invited me to do a guest post as part of her Share the Love Exchange. I decided to “keep it real” with some cold, hard, holiday truths tips to keep us accountable through the holidays.
We have taken the first steps on the road to holiday fun…my favorite time of year as it is for many! However, as the holiday season begins do you ever wonder if this year is “the year” that you should do things a bit differently? This time each year, I take a good look at what I’ve done in the past and wonder if a repeat performance makes sense or if it’s time to revamp. When you have done things one way, it can be difficult to break free and do things differently. Is this hesitancy because we hang onto what’s most familiar whether it makes sense or not?
Photo Credit: chemiclean.co.uk
In order to help us get through the holidays while staying on a healthy path, I’ve created a handy little list:
- Don’t be a Humo-Vac. The holidays aren’t a golden ticket to eat all the things you wouldn’t normally eat during the year.
- Do stick to your normal diet as much as possible. Routine is your friend. The more often you stick with it the less damaging it will be when you have limited options beyond your control.
- Don’t attend a holiday gathering on an empty stomach. Not only will you will be making poor choices before your coat is hung in the hall closet, but any alcohol you partake in will slam you harder than a screen door in a windstorm.
- Do wear something flattering, yet fitted. Why? Because we all know when you are dressed in sweat pants you automatically go into Humo-Vac mode, have lower self-esteem which leads to Humo-Vac mode, and you give up on your life goals, which leads to Humo-Vac Turbo mode.
- Don’t wear something too fitted just in case you end up overindulging. You do not want to look like you hit the Baby Gap sale by the end of the party.
- Do mingle lots, drink in hand, away from the food table.
- Don’t sidle up to the food table and spend hours grazing while pretending to follow Aunt Ethel’s diatribe of the latest visit to Dr. Wykowski who is always in such a hurry, he just rushes his patients through with no consideration for their schedules. After all, they could’ve used another hour in the waiting room to compare surgery scars.
- Do start thinking of your resolution for the new year so you keep it front and center during the holidays. You might surprise yourself and find you begin to subconsciously incorporate it already.
- Don’t use your resolution as an excuse to go into Humo-Vac mode since you vow to hit the gym every morning at five am starting January 2.
For most people, resolutions and life changing promises surface for New Year’s Eve, the end of one year and the beginning of another. The New Year has always brought with it the anticipation of a new beginning and all its promises. For me it is a time of self-reflection and renewed enthusiasm. I like to say I am not afraid of change, and given a good look at my many moves most people would say that’s true. I believe I am one to embrace change, but if I’m being honest I have to admit there are aspects of my life where I don’t know when to call it a day and make a change. Does the comforting feeling of what we know override the unknown? Or is it just that we tend to see what we want to see in order to justify our actions? Maybe we are so hopeful of the ending we see in our minds, that we ignore the signs right before our eyes.
I challenge us this holiday season to keep our eyes open to our unhealthy habits. Let’s try to do things differently this year and feel ready to take on 2013 with vigor instead of a sluggishly crawl into the new year and the local gym. Leave the Humo-Vac in the closet! After all, a little dust diet never hurt anyone during the holidays.
Are you a Humo-vac during the Holidays? Do you eat everything in sight? Or, are you headed into 2013 with enthusiasm for all aspects of life?
Don’t attend a holiday gathering on an empty stomach.- this one is so important to me! -Chris
Posted by amixofthings.com | December 13, 2012, 6:26 amI’ve been guilty of that one, thinking I’ll “save” myself for the good stuff!
Posted by littlemisswordy | December 13, 2012, 7:24 amMe too! I am also guilty of going to gatherings on an empty stomach. Once I’m there I can’t resist all the yummy appetizers. And, the wine of course!
Posted by Keeping it Real | December 13, 2012, 8:33 amGreat advice, Little Miss Wordy! I think we ALL fall into the Hump-vac trap during this time of year.
I can especially relate to #4, “Wear something fitted because when you wear sweat pants you go into Humo-vac mode.” I need to reconsider living in my yoga pants 364 days out of the year. They are way TOO stretchy and give me the illusion that I could stuff my face!
Posted by Keeping it Real | December 13, 2012, 6:39 amI spend much of my time in yoga pants too and they are definitely dangerous when it comes to showing restraint!
Thank you for so much for the invitation to be a guest on your awesome blog today!
Posted by littlemisswordy | December 13, 2012, 7:37 amYou’re welcome! So HAPPY to have you guest host my blog too. Yoga pants or not, you are THE poster girl for fun and fitness!
Posted by Keeping it Real | December 13, 2012, 8:31 amI just realized something. Back when I was dipped in the RIver Styx (to become the near invincible Childish Man), I must have been held not by the heel, but rather the gut. That’s right. I have an Achilles Gut. The way to defeat me is food. I’m like a lawnmower at parties. I would soooo miserably fail at your list of tips.
Posted by ChildishMan | December 13, 2012, 7:07 amThe reason I could come up with such a list is definitely personal experience!
Posted by littlemisswordy | December 13, 2012, 7:37 amReblogged this on littlemisswordy and commented:
Thank you Keeping it Real for featuring Little Miss Wordy as part of your Share the Love Exchange. I am honored!
Posted by littlemisswordy | December 13, 2012, 7:23 amMy pleasure! I am equally honored to have you have as a guest!
Posted by Keeping it Real | December 13, 2012, 8:42 amGreat post, one thing I could think of as a Don’t for all the working stiffs of the world: Don’t load up the plate, let alone return for seconds and or thirds at all the Office Parties and Holiday Luncheons or Potlucks…seriously…I’m just saying.
Posted by The Scales of Time | December 13, 2012, 7:48 amThanks! And yes, that’s definitely one to add to the list. I have witnessed people turn into a Humo-vac simply because the food is free! Even saw a woman filling her purse with egg rolls once! True story!
Posted by littlemisswordy | December 13, 2012, 8:03 amOh I believe you I work for one of the “Most Known” Retail Companies (and sometimes most hated) in the world and you should see how many times people go back again and again and again…
Posted by The Scales of Time | December 13, 2012, 8:28 amI don’t tend to eat more during the holidays than I do any other days, but there’s definitely a room for improvement on a day to day basis. I’ve gotten much better about only eating until full this year, but I’m aiming to eat slower so as to get a more accurate gauge on when I’m actually full.
I’m excited for the new year. I’m excited for more chances to do better.
Posted by Deborah the Closet Monster | December 13, 2012, 8:52 amYour approach to only eat until full is a great one, although sometimes for me that is so much easier said than done. I especially get caught up in all the festivities and tasting new items at this time of the year. For me the weekends can sometimes be just as difficult as the holiday season. As for the new year, I’m excited about starting a new chapter in so many ways!
Thank you for taking the time to read my thoughts and commenting.
Posted by littlemisswordy | December 13, 2012, 9:34 amThanks Little Miss Wordy!! I definitely need to print this out and have it attached to me at all times this next month so I can constantly remind myself! Actually, I think I just need to lock my doors so people quit dropping all these yummy treats off!! LOL!
Posted by motherhoodisanart | December 13, 2012, 11:12 amI’m thinking of making a laminated wallet card myself! Hey! How come no one is knocking on my door with treats? hmmmm….
Posted by littlemisswordy | December 13, 2012, 1:53 pmI’m wondering the same thing? We don’t have people dropping off treats to us either. Wish we did. The kids would think Christmas came early!
Posted by Keeping it Real | December 13, 2012, 3:10 pmI LOVE Little Miss Wordy!!! I’m afraid I am on the Humo-Vac path only because my husband has banned desserts until Christmas Eve. I may unleash in a chocolate fury for which the world is unprepared. I’ll try not to wear sweats, though
Posted by whencrazymeetsexhaustion | December 13, 2012, 11:14 amAwwhhh…thank you! Right back atcha! Step off the Humo-Vac path immediately! ha ha! I totally get what you mean though regarding unleashing the chocolate fury. You should be okay if you don’t wear the sweats, unless you’re going for a Christmas MuMu…then you’re in serious trouble!
Posted by littlemisswordy | December 13, 2012, 1:56 pmA Christmas mumu? Hadn’t thought of that. Can you imagine how well you could conceal your chocolate binging? If I could only sew!
Posted by Keeping it Real | December 13, 2012, 3:08 pmUghhh… yoga pants, sweat pants, my demise! I totally agree that they create a false sense that you can stuff your face…. when you really shouldn’t!
Posted by ambercease | December 13, 2012, 8:40 pmBut they are sooooo comfy! Sigh.
Posted by littlemisswordy | December 13, 2012, 9:46 pmGreat post! I feel like I’m going to suck a little bit less this Christmas.
Brilliant title, by the way. Way to subtly tie it in with the analogous subject matter.
Posted by dinkerson | December 16, 2012, 9:52 amLittle Miss Wordy did come up with a brilliant title! The image of the vac was equally effective. It made a permanent impression on me. A good reminder to be more conscientious of what I eat during the holidays!
Posted by Keeping it Real | December 16, 2012, 9:51 pm