First off, I want to wish all of you a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. We all have much to be thankful for, our health, our loved ones, and the power to create change for our lives. This is one of my favorite holidays of the year.  But that doesn’t mean it has to come with an extra little surprise that takes us all of 2010 to burn off does it??  I have some simple tricks for you and with some mind power and discipline on your part you will be well on your way to your best “holiday” body ever. Use this time of year to think about what goals you want for next year. Establish a sound plan now and prepare to implement it for next year’s new beginning. Enjoy the holiday with family and friends, if you can, and take time to see where you want to be next year at this same time. What do you want to accomplish by then?

I recently ran a contest where I asked… how do you plan on staying in shape over the holidays?  Five responses received a $25 coupon at the Opensky Community of shops.  The responses I got were right on the money…here’s a few!

1) Watch out for brownies, cookies, and cakes that are sent from work.

2) Avoid mindless eating, grabbing food and not paying attention to what you are doing. Stop over eating on foods you don’t really enjoy. 

3) Drink more water. Try your best to get in one gallon water a day!

4) Eat and enjoy foods that aren’t available to you everyday–if it is something you can get anytime skip it and eat the “holiday stuff” –but for that meal only.

5) Prepare your usual first three meals for Thanksgiving day the night before, especially if you are traveling. Then eat your turkey dinner, and from the snack bowl… whatever you like, eat slowly enjoy your food. Have fun, relax, take little bites of everything so you get a sample of all the flavors. Make a small plate, then go back for seconds only on the things you really like.

6) Cut carbs, sweets and bike hard. Lots of fruit and pineapple flavored h2o…less booze and more walkin..and dance dance dance…pura vida!!

7) Stop worrying about what other people think. People are resistant to change, whether it be our own, or that of friends and family. If you are going to move yourself UP through life, you are going to have to make yourself immune to most of the opinions and advice of others. Not ALL, but most. You’ll have to know who is on your side and who is trying to sabotage. Most of the time, these nay-sayers are just afraid you’ll leave them or move past them. Don’t let them discourage you. Most mean well, some don’t, so filter out the “noise” and trust yourself.

If you stick to your goals long enough, your friends and family will come around and may even be inspired to follow in your path. The road to your success has to be cleared and paved by you, and you alone.