From Bloated to Balanced: Holiday Reset Tips You’ll Love

The New Year has rung in, and the holiday binge saga is behind us.

Did you overindulge like I did? Feeling bloated and off-kilter? Sugar is my nemesis, and I’m embarrassed to say I caved under the pressure of its wonderous, chocolaty existence everywhere.

Fortunately, there is a way to ‘undo’ the adverse effects.

We’ve all heard it before: Drink water! Stay hydrated! It’s the wellness mantra of every health guru out there. But let’s be honest—after indulging in all those sugary treats and salty snacks, “water” doesn’t sound alluring. However, it’s time to think of hydration as your savior because it is.

Here’s how I think: a sip of water flushes out the holiday indulgence and gives my system the fuel it needs to recover gracefully. And believe me, we want grace after how we treated our bodies last month.

So, how do you make this water thing less blah? Let’s get creative:

Water Wisdom

• Start your day with a bit of elegance:” Instead of chugging plain water, make it fancy. Add a few mint sprigs, a lemon twist, or even a pinch of Himalayan pink salt.

• The 20-sip rule: Commit to 20 small sips of water every time you pass the sink. (Filtered water, though). No fancy math, no giant bottles, just a quick pause to refresh. Bonus: It’s an excuse to move around if sitting too long.

• Flavored ice cubes: For sweetness, freeze some lemon water with a little stevia, crush it, and eat it with a spoon—my favorite! Toss berries, herbs, or even edible flowers into ice cube trays with water. Every glass is now nutritious, and suddenly, hydration isn’t so dull.

• Quench your thirst: Try sparkling water with a splash of cranberry juice, coconut water for a hint of sweetness, or even warm water with a cinnamon stick. These minor tweaks can make a big difference.

Still not convinced? Remember, your body is made up of about 60% water. So, when you’re dehydrated, it’s like running on half-empty. Water helps your skin bounce back, your energy levels perk up, and your body gets back to its rhythm—like a reset button you can drink.

So, let’s make this simple: grab your favorite glass or bottle, make your water as fun as possible, and start sipping your way back to feeling fabulous. Cheers to hydration, the underappreciated godsend of the post-holiday season!

Get Moving (But Keep It Fun!)

After a holiday season filled with indulging, lounging, and maybe being a couch potato (no judgment!), getting your body back into motion can feel like climbing a mountain.

But you don’t need to run a marathon or spend hours sweating it out at a gym to start feeling better. The nexus is to move—in a way that doesn’t make you groan at the thought.

Think of this as shaking off the holiday cobwebs. The goal isn’t to punish yourself for indulging; it’s to wake your body up and remind it how good it feels to move. So, let’s ditch the “New Year, New Me” pressure and keep it simple—and, dare I say, enjoyable.

Here are a few ideas to get moving without it feeling like a chore:

• Turn up the tunes: Throw on your favorite playlist and dance like no one’s watching (and if someone is, give ’em a show!). Whether it’s 5 minutes or 15, it’s impossible to feel bad after a good solo dance party.

• Walk with a destination: Walking is the ultimate movement, but some of us need a destination—head to the mall or a coffee shop. If you’re lucky enough to have a furry friend, I can see it looking at you with longing eyes—”Take me, take me!”

• Micro-movements: Don’t underestimate the power of small bursts of activity. Stretch while waiting for your coffee to brew, do a few squats, or march in place while brushing your teeth. Every little bit adds up!

• Let out your silly self: Remember how fun it was to skip, hop, or hula hoop as a kid? Tap into that energy! Grab a jump rope (well, maybe), try light bouncing on a mini trampoline, or ride a bike. Who says movement has to be boring?

• Make it social: Pair movement with connection. Invite a friend for a walk-and-talk or join a local yoga or dance class. (I still haven’t learned how to do the Electric Slide, but I’d love to.) Moving with others can be a great motivator (and it makes it way more fun!).

Remember, you don’t have to run to a gym for hours or burn off every holiday calorie—you want to feel good in your body again. Even 10 minutes of moving can leave you feeling refreshed, energized, and ready to face the day.

So, lace up your shoes, turn on your favorite oldies, and give yourself permission to move—your body will thank you for it. Who knows? You might even enjoy it enough to keep it up long after the holiday reset is over!

Fill Your Bowl with Good Eats

After the holiday season, where cookies, chocolates, and cheesy casseroles often take center stage, it’s time to show your body you care by going back to the basics. Think of this as a chance to treat yourself—not to more treats, but to foods that make you feel good when you eat them.

Let’s skip the idea of a “detox” (because your body is already a detox machine) and instead focus on crowding out the not-so-great stuff by piling on the great stuff. Whole foods are your best friends right now. They’re like a reset button for energy, digestion, and well-being.

Here’s how to keep it simple and delicious:

• Make color your compass: The more colorful your plate, the better. Think vibrant greens, bold oranges, deep reds, and sunny yellows. How about some green, red, orange, and yellow bell pepper stir fry with mushrooms, onions, and chicken tenders? So good!

• Go for real, not refined: If it looks like it came straight from nature, you’re on the right track. Fresh veggies, fruits, nuts, seeds, and grass-fed meats are your ticket to feeling like yourself again. Skip the boxed and bagged remnants that leave you with brain fog and fatigue.

• Soup it up: A hearty vegetable soup or broth-based stew is an easy way to pack in nutrients without feeling like you’re eating a salad for every meal. It’s cozy and perfect for these cooler months.

• Snack smarter: We all know it. The urge to snack doesn’t vanish overnight. Keep snacking simple. I like a dab of peanut butter on a pickle, boiled eggs, cottage cheese, Granny Smith apple slices with monk fruit, cinnamon, or Himalayan salt. Roasted chickpeas sprinkled with garlic and sea salt or black beans with extra virgin olive and vinegar are delicious and nutritious.

• Cook once, enjoy twice: Batch cooking is your best friend right now. Roast a big tray of veggies or whip up a pot of quinoa—you’ll thank yourself later when your future self needs to reheat and eat.

My sister lives in another state, but we used to share a can of kidney beans with salt and pepper served in a fancy little dish. We’d drink a V-8 Juice in a pretty tall-stemmed wine glass to make ourselves feel good. I miss those days!

The point here is nourishment. When you fill your plate with real, whole foods, you’ll naturally start to feel better. The bloat subsides, your energy picks up, and suddenly, you’re not reaching for that leftover fudge anymore (or at least not every day).

So, head to your kitchen, grab your favorite cutting board, and start whipping up meals that’ll make you feel as good as they taste. Your body deserves it, and honestly, so do you. Let’s savor the sustenance—one bite at a time.

Feed Your Body, Don’t Fool It

After a season of overindulgence, it can be tempting to think, I’ll skip a few meals and make up for it. But here’s the thing: your body doesn’t like being tricked. Skipping meals isn’t a quick fix—it’s a surefire way to end up hangry, tired, and even more tempted to dive into the stash of leftover cookies. If you like fasting, like I do about 17 hours daily, get back to that after you fully recover.

Instead of skipping meals, consider this time an opportunity to reset how you nourish yourself. Your body thrives on consistency and balance, so let’s focus on giving it what it needs—when it needs it.

Here’s how to keep it simple and satisfying:

• Start with breakfast (even if it’s small): A couple of boiled eggs (I like sauerkraut with mine) or maybe a cup of some leftover vegetable soup or stew, which can go a long way in setting the tone for the day. You don’t need a feast, just something to wake up your metabolism.

• Aim for balance, not perfection: Think of your plate like a pie chart: some protein, healthy fats, colorful veggies, or fruit. If watermelon is still available where you live, go for it. I live in Florida, so that’s my treat right now. No need to overthink it—aim for variety.

• Keep meals light but frequent: Instead of loading up on one giant meal and feeling like a balloon, go for smaller meals or snacks every few hours. Your body will thank you for keeping it fueled without overloading it. But don’t keep this routine—frequent snacking leads to more snacking!

• Rescue your leftovers: Leftover roasted veggies, a slice of turkey, or even some holiday salad can be converted into a quick, healthy meal. Get creative—your fridge is full of must-goes.

• Listen to your body: Sometimes, a small meal is all you need; other times, your body’s asking for more. Pay attention to hunger cues and honor them without judgment. You’re not “making up” for anything—you’re just feeding your body what it needs.

The goal isn’t to punish yourself or swing wildly from feast to famine—it’s about showing your body a little respect for carrying you through the holidays. Food is fuel and medicine, but it’s also joy and connection. Skipping meals takes away from both, so don’t attempt that until recovery is accomplished.

So, instead of “fixing” anything by skipping, let’s focus on nourishing one plate (or bowl or handful) at a time. Your body will feel the difference—and your mood will, too.

Be Kind to Yourself (You Deserve It!)

Indulging over the holidays doesn’t make you “bad,” “weak,” or any other unkind label you might be tempted to slap on yourself. It makes you human. So, if you’re carrying around a little guilt along with that extra slice of pie, it’s time to let it go. Right now. Seriously—get rid of it!

Being kind to yourself doesn’t mean ignoring healthy habits or throwing your goals out the window. It means treating yourself with the same care and compassion you’d show a close friend. Would you tell them they “ruined everything” because they had a few extra chocolates? Of course not. So, why say it to yourself?

Here’s how to flip the script and make self-kindness part of your post-holiday reset:

• Focus on progress, not perfection: The goal isn’t to have the “perfect” diet, the “perfect” routine, or the “perfect” body. It’s to feel good, one small step at a time. Celebrate those steps, no matter how small they might seem.

• Speak kindly to yourself: Pause next time you catch yourself thinking something negative. Replace it with something positive. “I overdid it on dessert” becomes “I enjoyed dessert, and now I’m focusing on balance.”

• Set realistic goals: Instead of jumping into an all-or-nothing mindset, ease back into healthy habits in an achievable way. Maybe that means adding one more serving of veggies today or taking a short walk after supper. Small habits add up.

• Remember, you’re not alone: Almost everyone indulges over the holidays. It’s not a failure; it’s part of the celebration. The important thing is how you move forward, and you’re already doing that just by reading this.

• Find resolve in the reset: You don’t want to punish yourself, but give your body and mind what they need to feel their best. Try some yoga stretches, that colorful plate of food, or even a long, hot bath. (You deserve it).

Your worth isn’t measured by how “perfect” your choices are. It’s how you show up for yourself, even after the holidays. So, be kind, be patient, and give yourself credit for everything you do to reset and feel better.

Because you’re doing great. And that’s worth celebrating—maybe with a fresh bouquet of flowers. I do that for myself often 😊! Find what makes you smile and lean into it—you’ve earned it.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, meaning I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you if you use my link to make a purchase.

If you need help rejuvenating, I urge you to try HTB Rejuvenate. It helps reset your digestive system and supports your immune system. Just give it a little time, and it’ll work. I swear by it! See my blog post for more details here.