The first week of November seems way too early to be thinking about the holidays, but last weekend the grocery store was full of peppermint flavored, snowflake shaped everything even before the Halloween candy went on clearance. It’s not a great time of year to notice that your jeans are getting snug, but they are forcing me to own up to some habits that I need to get in check so I can enjoy healthy holidays.
My snug jeans already were making me own up to what I’ve been doing to myself, but thinking about this week’s Wednesday Word–complacency–has forced me to be even more honest.
The basic definition of “complacency” in the Mirriam-Webster on-line dictionary wasn’t too thought-provoking:
a feeling of being satisfied with how things are and not wanting to try to make them better; a complacent feeling or condition
But the “full” definition was pretty harsh:
self-satisfaction especially when accompanied by unawareness of actual dangers or deficiencies; an instance of usually unaware or uninformed self-satisfaction
I’ve been complacent about my nighttime snacking–munching away without thinking about the consequences, convincing myself that my diet was pretty healthy–but now it’s time to reckon with the truth and break a habit that is standing between me and healthy holidays. If I can’t resist lime flavored Tostitos, how will I exercise restraint in the face of platters of homemade Christmas cookies?
Another way to be honest about healthy holidays is to join the #HolidaySweat challenge hosted by Amanda (@RunToTheFinish) and SweatPink.
The challenge will run from November 8 through January 2, with weekly prompts, prizes, and, most valuable of all to me–accountability, support, and motivation as I strive for healthy holidays. You can learn more and sign up here.
[Tweet “Don’t be complacent – join the #HolidaySweat challenge with @runtothefinish @fitappraoch #WednesdayWord”]
Is there something you’ve been too complacent about?
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oh SO MUCH THESE DAYS.
but first and foremost Ill go with health 🙂
prioritizing stretching and flexibility.
thinking it will always just “be there” when I need it—even if I dont maintain it.
oops….
YES. I’ve been very complacent about my diet and workouts lately. Well, not just lately but for a while. Things don’t fit the same and I don’t feel the same and I was just thinking that I needed to do something about it! I’m glad to hear I’m not the only one.
Luckily for me I’m not a big chips person. And I don’t keep them in the house. My husband has his single serving stash & I sure wish he’d learn that he doesn’t need to eat that with like every lunch but that’s a different subject.
Crackers, though, oddly enough, are my achilles’ hill. I simply cannot keep them in the house because I’ll devour a box in a couple of days. Because they’re not satisfying — although they sure taste good.
I have a couple of boxes in the house right now, but they’re for Thanksgiving. And if my family doesn’t finish them, I’ll probably just throw them out. You have to set yourself up for success!
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Yep. I just fall into the trap of buying chips for my husband and then eating them too! I buy crackers, but pack them for lunch for forced portion control!
I haven’t decided if I’m going to participate in the holiday challenge or not. Since I have 2 spring races to train for, I don’t think I’m in danger of becoming complacent! I may just enjoy this little break.
I’m hoping the challenge will just help me focus and pay attention to my choices. I’m not really worried about the exercise time – that’s pretty much a given for me.
I always love the Sweat Pink challenges and I am excited for this one. This time of year is really hard with so much crap around everywhere!
I used to hate challenges but I have realized that they make you work harder and hold you accountable!
Yes, I’m always surprised at how motivating they can be!
I always find the holidays hard in terms of portion control. There’s always something around the office – cookies, chocolates, what have you. I can’t seem to have just ONE. Diet is something I definitely get complacent about this time of year. Probably because it’s off season and I’m generally a little more lax about everything. Until I put on a pair of jeans and realize they don’t fit!
The nighttime snacking always gets me. Currently it’s 1% chocolate milk with Justin’s Maple Almond Butter on Big Wheat Thins. Gosh, that is so yummy! However, I am happy to report that I did not eat one piece of Halloween candy.
It is hard to be disciplined all the time. I do try, but some days it is really hard, snacking is like a form of relaxation…and i have worked hard to break that connection in my mind.
I usually am okay over the holidays because we don’t have any big family gatherings or anything so I try to pick my “treat” days.
Yes, I definitely have the snacking = relaxing issue to deal with. It is such a hard connection to break.
A challenge is probably just what I need! I struggle with making good food choices. After the kids go to bed, anything is fair game!!
It is the perfect time of year for this kind of challenge; it’s so easy to cruise mindlessly through the holidays and end up much worse off at the end!
LOVE this post! And I LOVE the challenge even more!
Such a timely post! Christmas sweets and drinks are so tempting to me, and this is a good reminder to get things under control now. Thanks for reminding me about the Sweat Pink challenge!
Thanks for linking up!
I realized I had fallen into the complacency rut a couple years ago – and I think I’ve done a really good job keeping myself from falling back into it ever since. There will always be setbacks and periods of time when you kinda “let things go” but blogging has helped me keep my awareness. I notice much quicker now before I get “rutted”, which helps me turn it all around right away!
I’m starting to get into hibernation mode, so I am becoming much more complacent with health and fitness.
Yep, way too complacent about staying hydrated lately. Oops.
What a great challenge!! I think I need to get in this one fore sure. I need moderation right about now!
Oh yea, I totally get complacent about eating when training and have to reel it in big time now. None of my clothes fit and we are going on a cruise in 6 weeks. GAH! I need to get in a bathing suit?! I’ve been logging on MyFitnessPal to keep me in check!