We’ve talked about this before and we’ll talk about it again. Just how can we control high blood sugar during Christmas? It’s these times of celebration that can cause us to lose our way. I’m here to help you to stay on track or at least get back on track quickly after Christmas Day. I also want to help you to keep things as stable as you can while eating treats, not ideal but hey, it’s Christmas.

I know there are things before Christmas Day and things after but again, they are just things in isolation not a series of things that string together. Do you understand what I mean? Consider each occasion separately and do your best at the time. If you stray then get back on track for the next meal, the next day, and the next week. Get my drift.

First of all, let’s talk about ‘in the moment’ when you are socialising either at home or when you’re out.

Some of you will have heard these ideas, some won’t, whichever you fall into, keep reading as it will jog your memory and help you to set good intentions before the festive season.

Water

Staying hydrated is key, so make sure to drink water throughout the day and especially when enjoying alcohol. To help you keep track, try lining up glasses of water as a visual reminder, or keep a glass by the kettle so you can easily hydrate while making a cuppa. If you’re drinking alcohol, measure it out and be mindful of your intake. Remember, staying hydrated will help your body manage blood sugar levels and keep you feeling your best.

That’s a list of things you can do, choose the ones that support you and use ideas to keep it going.

Sugar and carbs (including alcohol!)

Remember to have sugar with meals that contain protein where possible and look at what you’re eating and drinking. As I’ve said before, divide your meal into 3 equal parts: Carbs, protein, and vegetables. So if you know you want a dessert then avoid the carbs (bread, potatoes, pasta, rice) with your main course. That way you don’t overindulge and you don’t feel too full to move and have the energy to do the things you like doing.

A small suggestion for you, based on a conversation I had with a client this week, put a small amount of carbs on your plate, not loads. If you’re a roast potato fan then keep it small, particularly if there’s Yorkshire pudding on there as well.

I have clients that eat no carbs at all and others that do eat them in moderation, so it depends on you, and how they impact how you feel.

If you get dizzy, heady, have brain fog, or have tingly and painful feet when you eat them, please keep them to a minimum. Remember to drink plenty of water to help your body clear the sugar out of the bloodstream.

Vegetables

Just keep them coming. Fill your plate with veg, particularly green veg and one of the things we do at Christmas is to have soup in the evening, that way you get plenty of vegetables and you tend to sleep better as well. On the whole, the main meal is during the day over the Christmas period, which allows more time before bed for the body to work on it. If you are having your main meal in the evening. I suggest you try to eat a bit earlier so you are not going to bed on a full stomach. It helps your body to have 2 hours after your meal before bed so the food is mostly digested. Keep it colourful, you get different nutrients from red than you do from green so have a lovely variety of colours.

Ready to bounce back after the festivities? Here’s how to get back on track after those indulgences.

First of all, again it’s water

If you’ve overindulged in food or alcohol the most important thing to get you back on track is to drink masses of water.

Second, is your protein intake

Go for protein the next day it will reduce the possibility of craving sugar later in the day. That’s why a hearty (protein-filled) breakfast is so good when you have a hangover.

AND last but not least are Feelings

Christmas can be a tricky time for dynamics. We spend time with people that we may not find easy. Remember, it’s only a few days, maybe just one. It’s worth preparing yourself for the moment when something or someone upsets you and deciding what you do when that happens. Decide that you will drink a glass of water, eat some protein, go for a walk, write down your frustrations, read a book, dance around the room—you get the gist.

DO SOMETHING OTHER THAN REACH FOR THE SUGAR.

Most of all HAVE FUN and when that guilty feeling comes up use it to motivate you to get you back on track.

So at the risk of preaching, I’m going to stop there. If you would like more tips there are lots more tips in my BLOG articles.