Everyone is in the holiday spirit in our house,
especially Bella with her snowflake bandana.
We decked the halls the other night, and it always feels so good to take out our ornaments after they’ve been packed away.
Last year was incredibly sentimental because when we’d previously packed them up, we had no idea where we’d be stationed or living when the Christmas stuff came out of storage.
It was hard to believe that it had been an entire year since I was waddling around the tree with my pregnant belly, waiting in anticipation for our little girl to be here. I had to stop myself from turning into a blubbering mushball when I opened Liv’s ornament from last year.
The tree is up, Amazon/Etsy Christmas 2012 has arrived, Elf on the shelf seems to be getting into shenanigans already
(did you know that chewing on the elf makes it extra magical??)
and we plan on doing lightstravaganza this weekend. Our neighbors seem to be waiting, too, but they also tend to be sneaky. One night the street is dark, and the next, there are inflatable holiday figures and elaborate light displays, dancing in time to “Oh Come All Ye Faithful” (ok, I made the last part up, but you get the idea).
Eats-wise, I managed to get out of the holiday spirit for the most part. One of the main things I like to do over the treat avalanche from Halloween to New Years is enjoy the respective foods during each party and event, but try not to let the festive feasts trickle in to regular meals. Somehow for me this year, Halloween managed to last until Thanksgiving (I blame the tiny Almond Joys and Reeses). What can I say? I was in the mood this year.
On Monday, I made a conscious effort to get back to normal-ish eats, and while I still had a small glass of wine each night, some pie innards and brownie (I need chocolate to survive), it felt like a good week. I was telling my mom that I was really dragging the past couple of weeks despite sleeping well, caffeine and eating enough to sustain my activities.
The reason: I was skimping on veggies, forgetting to take my vitamins, eating a lot of sugar and not drinking enough water. It had gone on for a couple of weeks and I started to feel the effects. Within a few days of making a few changes, my energy increase was incredible- that’s where the homemade dinners, felt tree and spray-painted pine cones came from, haha.
I was so happy that so many of you joined me in a week of clean eats, daily salad beasts and sweaty workouts! Here are some of the amazing pics you sent in.
@HaleyCat
@FitSwissChick
and @LisaLangenfeld ‘s
salad beasts!
@GraceKennington after the Holiday HIIT and Six Pack in a Sweater workouts
@Maddie Cook after the Holiday HIIT
Please keep the photos, tweets and Instagram pics coming – I love seeing them.
Thank you again to those of you who participated in Namaste November. Stay tuned for a December challenge and the lucky winners of the Namaste November giveaway will be announced tonight!
We’re off on an extra special adventure today. If all goes well, we’ll have some fun news to share this weekend <3
xoxo
Gina
I’m thrilled to hear you loved the Zumba video! I’ll keep ‘em coming 
For a quick Friday workout, try the Holiday HIIT, Zumba song, Leg Burner and Ab Burner. 20 minutes! Leave a comment or tweet me to let me know how it goes.
Something to talk about: What are you proud of this Friday? What’d you accomplish this week?
If you’d like to subscribe to my YouTube channel, here’s the link <3
Hi, I'm Gina. Welcome to The Fitnessista! I love blogging about my adventures as a new mom, military wife and fitness instructor, as well as sharing new workouts and recipes. Check out the About page for more info - thanks for stopping by!
It’s incredible what some healthy sweat and extra greens can do for us, huh?? I’m glad to be back to the norm this week too! The indulgences were delicious and fun, but only for so long.
I fall into veggie ruts too, despite being a nutritionist. It really does take consistent, conscious effort to eat enough veggies everyday, but like any habit (good or bad) the more we do it the more second-nature it becomes!
I agree with your goal of letting yourself have special treats, but focusing on eating normal veggie-based meals day to day. Last year things got a little out of control when work was treat-palooza for about two solid months! I found myself stress eating leftover cookies at the office (that were not even that yummy) just because I was working late, starving and crabby. This year, I am packing healthy afternoon snacks to avoid the 5pm sugar debacle.
Also, where did you get those black skinny pants you are wearing in the photo? I love a good pair of black skinnies or leggings, but I have the hardest time finding a pair that will hold up and not fade too terribly.
they’re from my stitchfix box: http://fitnessista.com/2012/11/gina-my-first-stitchfix/
sanctuary brand- i’ve worn them SO much already. super comfy and not quite as casual as leggings
I’m jealous of your high ceilings! You get to have a nice tall christmass tree!
thank you! i begged tom for a GIANT xmas tree, but since we have no idea where we’ll be living, it made no sense :/
I sometimes get into those sitches too, where I’m just not feeling the veggies and want more sweet potato pie with marshmallows, ya know? Tis the season, but as long as you’re concious of it and get back to the veggies/healthy goods, then it’s all good I think. By the way, super cute black skinny jeans (or maybe they’re leggings?) in that tree photo!
ps. What is the best email to reach you? I sent you one earlier in the week, but I think I may have sent it to the wrong address. Gracias!
I just ordered our elf on the shelf on Monday! I don’t think my 18 month old will get it quite yet but it will be fun to have the elf in the background of Holiday pictures to look at in years to come! Love starting new traditions!
haha for now, tom and i are having way more fun with it than liv has
I love your moccasins! Do you mind sharing where you got them?
Oh em gee, Lisa’s salad, brussels and salmon looks redonkulous. YUM!
Love the feeling of bringing out the Christmas ornaments and seeing them for the first time after they’ve been packed away in boxes all year. I’ll be decorating this weekend and I can.not.wait. Eld, Michael Buble’s Christmas album, and hot chocolate are definitely going to be making appearances too. And I hear you on not feeling the best when you’ve been skimping on the healthy eats – it’s the same way for me. Actually, water is probably the biggest thing that does it. If I don’t drink enough, my mood and energy levels plummet fast.
Can I be nosy and ask where you bought them / what brand are your mocs? I recently bought a pair of Toms but had to return them as they hurt my feet so badly I had to take a break from running
Anyways, I’m looking for a casual pair of shoes to replace them and I have my eye on mocs but can’t find any I like in the stores. Thanks!
not nosy at all! what toms did you get?? i found my feet had to get used to them
the mocs are from nordstrom race last year- minnetonka brand
How exciting you get another year in the same house! I’m assuming as a military spouse that must be a huge blessing for you. And your tree looks stunning!
yeah, it’s pretty amazing to have another year here
I also would love to know where you got those black pants from! Love!
thank you! they were in my stitchfix box, sanctuary brand
http://fitnessista.com/2012/11/gina-my-first-stitchfix/
Congrats on getting the tree up – major accomplishment and adorable picture of you standing next to your masterpiece
I found out I was pregnant in August and getting enough veggies has been a huge struggle since then. First trimester, I couldn’t stand the thought of them. Now, I’m eating them just fine, but my sweet tooth is going CRAZY–as in sugar has somehow become one of the main food groups (especially when its in the form of peppermint bark!) This is a good reminder that I can probably make those super-low energy days a little better by resisting a few treats when its not party time.
Beautiful tree! And I, too, love those pants.
thank you!!
and happy pregnancy to you <3
I’ve been a bit sluggish too, lately, and I think you’re onto something there, with the whole not-enough-water-and-veggies & too-much-sugar thing! Thanks for the reminder!
Your tree looks beautiful. I’m listening to Christmas music at this very moment, and I’m very excited to bust out my Advent Calendar tomorrow
Not a task that I accomplished but I went to work everyday despite my medical condition that makes me nauseous in the morning. I felt so sick all week and I still forced myself to get up everyday. It’s my first “big girl” job so it was a huge accomplishment for me to go all five days and go to school after work everyday. Really proud of myself.
i’m proud of you, too!
Love your Christmas spirit; I can’t wait to get our tree soon. Have FUN this weekend!
Beautiful Christmas Tree! I love Bella’s Festive apparel too
bell says thank you
Your tree is stunning!
thank you!
Ahhh, Elf on the Shelf!!! My nephew is having a blast with this little holiday adventure.
It’s crazy how off our bodies can feel after a week or two of eating “bad” and forgetting to take our vitamins or drink a lot of water! It just makes me want to stay on track because I actually can feel that eating healthy is better!
Hi,
I am proud of a month of Vegan (no dairy, no grains, no meats, or fish, or soy) I have never felt better!! I have eaten clean my whole life and after challenging myself a few years back with 30 day no sugar challenges, I realized out eating is a ‘habit’ more than anything else. I have kids so there are junky thing in my home, but my habit has caused it to not even tempt me! Ps. I am doing lowfat high raw~lots of fruit!!
Bella is too cute! I know what you mean about seeing your baby’s ornament. Every year when we decorate our tree I get teary-eyed looking at my kids’ ornaments (they get one each year). Also, I adore Elf on the Shelf, he truly is magical!
That’s a great idea- just because it’s Christmas or whatever doesn’t mean you have to eat everyday like it’s a Christmas feast! Keep it for the special events, family times and parties- that’ll keep it special
Your tree looks great!
I love the feeling of bringing out all the Christmas decorations again. I can’t wait to start putting out mine!
You’ve asked this question at the perfect time because I have something I’m very proud of that happened on Friday. I paid off all my student loans! I just wrote a big post about it on my blog too.
A week of clean eats is a great idea. Very inspirational to hear how better eating gave you more energy this week!
whoa, that is a huge accomplishment- congrats!
Such a beautiful Christmas tree!! Where did you get your adorable moccasins? I must find a pair!!
thank you! nordstrom rack last year, they’re minnetonka
I feel the same way with the eating shenanigans around holidays. I also try to make an effort to let the holiday have it’s day, and get back to normal the next day – or the next Monday
After being out of town this weekend for a wedding (Thurs-Sun), I feel so ready to get back to my routine at home!