100: How to actually enjoy the holiday season while still staying on top of your PCOS

Holiday season is fast approaching, can you believe it?

Things are getting busy with wrapping up work projects before your christmas break, dinner parties and gatherings (or in our case here in New Zealand, BBQs and boat trips), travelling (hopefully) to see loved ones and checking things off your holiday to-do list. 

If you’re anything like I was, you’re probably wondering how the heck you’re going to actually enjoy this time of year while still keeping on top of your PCOS symptoms.

It’s easy to get swept up in the holiday chaos and push setting (and maintaining) habits until January 1st (you know, the whole #newyearnewme carry on)!

But what I’ve seen to be most successful amongst my patients is actually setting those good habits now – just as we’re about to launch into the holiday season. 

It may seem counterintuitive, but the holiday season is one of the best times to make changes. Because you’re forced to be really 80/20 about your approach to these lifestyle changes — rather than being really rigid and then blowing out when any slight change to your routine (or habits) appears – ie. Christmas and New Years!

So today on the podcast, I’m chatting with our other Registered Nutritionist, Emma and we’re talking all about how to manage your PCOS effectively over the holiday season. 

We share how we approach it personally as well as some really tactical, actionable ways to help you keep up with your PCOS lifestyle changes 80% of the time without interrupting the well deserved (and enjoyable) 20% that inevitably comes with this time of year.

This episode is for you if:

• You have solid habits but you’re worried about how you’re going to stay on track with them during the holiday season
• You take a really perfectionist approach to your lifestyle, so you’re worried about adapting that over the holiday season
• You’re travelling over the holiday season and want some tips on how to manage your PCOS while you’re away
• You have lots of gatherings, BBQs and dinner parties and you’re worried about if there will be anything you can eat there

Some things we cover in this episode:

• Being prepared – and how to do it
• Why sleep is so key over this time
• Keeping hydrated and managing your alcohol intake
• Using ‘dead time’ to plan ahead
• How to approach movement at this time of year (especially when you’re not at home)
• Tackling BBQs, dinner parties and events where you’re not in control of what food will be there

Resources and References:

• 99: How to set boundaries, actually stick to habits and be kind to yourself with Clinical Psychologist Dr. Rebecca Ray
• Ottelenghi cookbooks
• My Book: Getting Pregnant with PCOS

Links to our programs:

• The PCOS Protocol
• Eggducated