The holidays really throw a wrench in my nutrition plan!
I can’t be the only one. Between company parties, cookies & cakes from the neighbors, holiday gatherings with friends, and all the treats that come with the season, it feels impossible to stay on track.
To make matters worse, sweets are my Achilles heel, so there’s no getting around the pies, cookies, and cakes. Well, I probably could do better if I really tried, but where’s the fun in that? I’m weak.
Let’s not forget my favorite, eggnog. Eggnog is to Christmas as candycorn is to Halloween, and I (over)indulge in both.
With all the craziness going on in the world right now, I need to live a little. The holidays are good for that. Everybody’s happy. It’s the spirit of the season.
Unfortunately, the glutonny begins on my birthday, mid-November, followed by Thanksgiving with all the trappings one might imagine. By this point, my belly is in a constant state of ‘full,’ and I’ve increased my workouts in an effort to outpace my eating.
It’s a losing battle, but I still try.
Then comes my partner’s birthday, which falls on the weekend after Thanksgiving. The gluttony continues. We both know this will eventually end in disaster, but we aren’t worrying about that right now. For now, we eat.
You see, we’re foodies. We celebrate our birthdays with food, opting for restaurants we’ve been wanting to try. It’s not our fault we were born so close to the holidays. That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.
And so we continue, like explorers charting new territory! We move ahead with joy, feasting, and celebrating along the way.
The road to the New Year is paved with good intentions, calorie-dense meals, parties, desserts, and alcohol. And eggnog. You already know the outcome: an extended period of overeating, which leads to lethargy, brain fog, and weight gain.
My menopausal belly is making it difficult for me to eat as much as I want. That sounds like a good thing, but not for the reasons you think.
The visceral fat lining my belly is springy yet unforgiving to the touch. Imagine pressing on a balloon that’s filled to the brim with air. That’s what it feels like.
I’ve been fighting with this belly for the past year. It’s caught me off guard, and, me being an athlete, I’m pissed that I haven’t been able to ‘fix it’ in the ways that I’m used to.
In essence, I haven’t been able to swim, bike, or run it off, and it’s making me miserable. It’s time for this old dog to learn some new tricks because what I’ve been doing isn’t working.
The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new. — Socrates.
This year, I’m hopping on the New Year, New Me train!
But it’s not about the usual ‘lose weight, blah, blah, blah’ cliché reasons. For me, it’s about tackling this belly before it morphs into a full-on Jabba the Hutt situation.
2026 will be a journey from what I thought I knew & what has always worked, to discovering what truly works for me. A season of unlearning and relearning with intention.
I’ve always been aware of the healing power of food, or more specifically, proper nutrition. I’m a lifelong athlete, personal trainer, and avid researcher of all things health & fitness. Food really is medicine.
If you really want to learn more, watch the documentaries “What the Health“ and “Hack Your Health“ so you can see for yourself. The proof is in the pudding… or, in the greens. The theme of these shows (and other similar documentaries) is the same: whole foods are better for you than processed foods.
Modern science now confirms that food is medicine, which is something traditional wisdom has been suggesting for quite some time. A proper diet can prevent, manage, and even reverse illness.
Deep down, I think we all know which foods are good for us and which are “bad.” Unfortunately, the playing field isn’t fair, as healthy foods tend to be more expensive, while unhealthy foods are manipulated to taste better.
Take Jay and Ana Maria Leis, for instance. Jay was battling Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol until they discovered the healing power of food. Their story is a great example of using food as medicine.
Together, the couple transitioned to a whole-food, plant-based diet. They also cut out animal products and processed foods. Within one year, they lost over 130 pounds combined. Their health dramatically improved, despite being told that diabetes was irreversible.
In my case, I’m attempting to rid myself of this belly, which is partially caused by inflammation. Foods high in sugar, refined carbohydrates, processed meats, and fried oils are the biggest culprits for inflammation.
The Standard American Diet (SAD).
Inflammation is our body’s natural defense mechanism, but chronic inflammation can wreak havoc on our health. Short-term inflammation is protective, but chronic inflammation is linked to heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, Alzheimer’s, depression, and even accelerated aging.
Inflammation is also a contributing factor to my “menopausal belly.”
In a nutshell, I need to reduce inflammation, and one way to do that is to change my diet. Researchers agree that one of the most powerful ways to fight inflammation isn’t in a pill bottle, but on your plate.
I’m excited about juicing!
The juices have always been pre-made, and I’d simply follow a plan. After watching “Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead”, I decided that this time, I’d prepare the juices myself.
I’ve used juicing as a quick way to ‘eat my vegetables,’ so I figured, why not take it up a notch? 2026 here I come!
While still eating cookies, cakes, and pies, I’ve been experimenting with juicing. A bit of a contradiction, I know, but I want to be ready for the New Year!
I’ve created recipes and even named a few. My favorite so far is ‘Big Red’, which consists of beets, carrots, and ginger. The trick is to experiment with different combinations and find flavors you enjoy most.
I’ve recently discovered dandelion greens, dragon fruit, pomelo, and turmeric root. I look forward to experimenting with more fruits and vegetables I haven’t tried before.
As they say, if you want something you’ve never had, you must be willing to do something you’ve never done.
So, in an effort to do something different in 2026, I’ll be using food as medicine. By being intentional about the foods I eat (and drink), I aim to reduce inflammation and restore balance to my body. And reduce this belly.
While I can’t undo the past year of frustration with my post-menopausal body, I can choose a new path forward. By embracing whole, anti-inflammatory foods and experimenting with juicing, I hope to build something new. My body may be changing, but so is my mindset.
Join me on the New Year, New Me Bandwagon!
Be Well,
Edrika