Getting back to a healthy plan after Eid

Happy eid everyone, may Allah accept all your prayers.

We understand that chaos and surprises are a part of Eid, so as dietitians we don’t expect of you to be healthy all the way through your holiday. But we are here to help you to get back to your healthy lifestyle after all that mess.

First of all don’t feel guilty about it, having a good time is not something to feel bad about neither it can change what happened it the past. So it is okay to have an unhealthy meal every once in a while as long as you’re living an overall healthy lifestyle. And it’s absolutely normal to have a period of time that is not 100% healthy. The important thing is that you recognize it and know that it is only for a while.

Secondly, we need to get back to our healthy routine as soon as possible because it is a part of our lifestyle. Getting back starts with recognizing the healthy habits that you didn’t do for the last few days or the unhealthy habits that you acquired and change them.

Ask yourself the following questions:

1. Did you drink enough water?If the answer is no, you have to remind yourself to drink your daily needs of water every single day until it becomes a habit.
2. Did you move adequately? Did you do any physical activity or walked 10,000 steps?If not, starting today you will increase your physical activity gradually. Going back to the gym or increasing daily steps count day by day until you reach 10,000 every day.
3. Do you still have holiday treat (sweets, biscuits and chocolates) at home?If yes, we recommend you give them to your friends, neighbors, co-workers or someone in need. Having unhealthy choices lying around the house will only be a temptation to eat unhealthy snacks which contain calories and not nutrients.
4. Do you still sleep during the day and wakeup at sunset?If yes, fixing your sleep schedule should be a priority when following a healthy lifestyle. Sleep deprivation is known to increase appetite and cause insulin resistance which lead to weight gain. Plus, waking up early will help you through scheduling your meals and physical activity more easily.

Thirdly, as we discussed in the beginning, chaos is a part of Eid so for the past few days your meals and snacks might not have been as scheduled as they should be. We recommend starting to write down all your meals and snacks for the next week to see if you are following the healthy plan accurately. Also, when going back to work after some time off, consider meal prepping your healthy breakfast, lunch and snacks.

Lastly, take your time and gradually break away from all the unhealthy habits until you reach your ultimate health goals.