As the holiday season draws to a close, we might notice that somewhere along the way, we boarded a Sugar Train. We likely entered the train innocently enough; at the beginning it might have resembled a subway with frequent opportunities to disembark. But for some, it now feels more like a high-speed train traveling through an underwater tunnel with no exit stations in sight.
 
The cookies are calling.  The chocolate stash has grown exponentially. Dessert happens…regularly; perhaps daily. Maybe we’ve won more sugar standoffs in the past, but now sugar clearly has taken the lead. We can no longer find it within ourselves to say no. 

Before we go any further, I want to acknowledge something. Sugar acts upon the opiod receptors, or pleasure centers of our brains, just like recreational drugs such as cocaine do. Studies have shown it to be as addictive as cocaine, if not more so. Plus, if we’re pre-diabetic or diabetic, eating more sugar is especially apt to make us crave more sugar due to poor insulin handling. And, if you happen to have yeast overgrowth (dysbiosis) in your gut, the “bad bacteria” can cause you to madly crave sugar. 
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So, while it is possible to exit the Sugar Train rather than circling the globe until the end of your days, it is important to work with your biochemistry – and to be gentle with yourself -- to once again gain some control over sugar cravings. Here are some tips to get you started:

Put your name at the top of the list with 7 ideas for nurturing, self-loving gifts to give yourself this season.
​I recently returned from traveling, and on each of the 12 flights I took I heard the safety briefing during which you’re told to put your oxygen mask on first before helping others. Which got me thinking...how many times in our lives do we take care of everyone else’s “oxygen masks” before securing our own? And although I completely honor this time of giving, are we including ourselves on the list of people to give a gift to?

My guess is that for many of us, our name does not appear on our gift list. I’d like to suggest that you include yourself among those you give to this season. If we tend to give and do a lot for others (especially as women), we run the risk of leaving ourselves depleted, and often our health suffers. 

I work with many people who after many years and declining health, decide that it is now the year to focus on caring for themselves. I am always inspired by their conviction. But if you haven’t already, I encourage you to gather that conviction now, and make EVERY year the year you focus on caring for yourself. Don’t wait until you’re exhausted or in a health crisis to do so.

So this holiday season, make the first gift you give be to yourself. The irony is that it greatly increases our ability to give to others. We thrive when we give from full wells that are spilling over, not rationing our last bit of water to others before taking a drink ourselves.

We see many gift idea lists during the holiday season; here is a list of gifts for YOU. 

1. Time with friends -- There are so many parties this season, and some feel obligatory. Be sure to make time to gather your besties and do something you all enjoy. Support each other in your challenges, and dream together about what the next year might hold. For women in particular, time with our girlfriends is essential to reduced stress, balanced hormones and overall well-being. 
2. Nourishing food – In a season of sugar and carbs as far as the eye can see, it’s good to find balance with nourishing food. Nutrient-rich food will help you get through the season with energy instead of exhaustion. Be sure to include healthy lean protein like fish, eggs or nuts, and eat a rainbow of colors daily. Shooting for half a plate of veggies is a great challenge and will give your body an array of nutrients. Get in touch for some new recipes!
3. Quiet time – Turn off your phone, silence the holiday music, and tell your family you are not to be disturbed. Even 10 minutes is useful. If you haven’t already, consider beginning a meditation practice – there is so much great research about the health benefits of meditation. And slowing down for just a moment feels extraordinary too. If you’d like tips on how to start meditating let me know.
4. Nurturing touch – we need touch to survive (babies can die if they don’t receive it), and we require a lot more touch than we might realize to thrive. Ask a loved one you trust for a long hug or massage, spend time petting an animal companion, or book an appointment for massage, reflexology or a facial – whatever feels most relaxing and nurturing to you (I have referrals for all of these services if desired). 
5. Say no -- If you’re not in the habit of doing so, try it - it’s sooo liberating. Practice saying no to one thing (or several!) this week, and use the time you would have spent doing that thing to nurture yourself.  
6. Sleep --With parties and late-night shopping, sleep often suffers. My favorite way to think about cultivating good sleep is to treat your bedtime ritual like you would getting a child ready for bed. Get in your cozy jammies, turn off screens, read yourself a story :-), perhaps take a bath, enjoy a warm drink, etc. Begin at least an hour before you’d like to be sleeping. Get in touch if you’d like more sleep tips.
7. The gift of good health -- The new year is often a time of resolutions and getting back on track with healthy habits. If you’d like to lock in your good-health resolution now, check out my Real-Food Detox, beginning Feb. 2 in San Ramon. I’m offering a significant discount if you sign up by Jan. 1. Learn more here. 

Happy holidays!