I went into the holiday season telling myself that I was going to eat healthy, workout at least four times a week, and be sure to not eat cookies every chance that I got. I packed up my NutriBullet, threw my already packed gym bag in my car, and had confidence that I would actually follow my plan for once.

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It is now a few days past Thanksgiving and I have went against all of those plans. I have had three quite large Thanksgiving meals, not including the leftovers I packed for work, and I have yet to use the gym bag in the back seat of my car. And after so many past arguments with myself about, I am finally able to say that okay with that.

In the world that we live in, there are two extremes of eating that we can find ourselves being pulled to: overindulgence and extreme restriction. Why is it that food seems to have so much control over us? We so often get caught in this mindset of needing to be healthy to the point where it controls everything that we do. During the holidays this can cause us to not even be able to enjoy a holiday dinner because instead of seeing it as a moment to be shared with our friends and family, we start seeing it as a meal full of carbs and fats that we will have to punish ourselves for later at the gym. As someone who has battled with severely restricting what I eat in a day, I realize how detrimental this can be.

When I broke away from the health plans that I had set for myself for the holiday season, my mind instantly went into thoughts of, "You ruined your healthy life and workout habits. You're going to have to workout so much harder to get back to where you were." I am sure many of you have had these lies creep into your mind as well.

Here's a few things to think about during the holidays to fight off those lies. A few holiday meals will not ruin you. You have been created so beautifully and perfectly, and you are not defined by what you eat. During the holidays, listen to your body and eat intuitively. This does not mean that all you can eat are the vegetables off of the veggie platter, but it also does not mean that eating four rolls is necessarily a great plan either. Your body wants to be nourished with good foods. You can still eat green bean casserole and pumpkin pie, but when you are eating listen to your body to know when you are full. Just because it is the holiday season doesn't mean you have to have seconds and thirds, but if you feel like your body is still hungry, feed it. The other half of our hunger comes from something that food cannot satisfy: our souls. So when you begin worrying about the weight you've gained over the holidays, or when you begin to feel guilty about overindulging in your grandma's pie, exert that energy into something that will build you up and restore you. Your soul needs to be refilled in order for you to have the strength the fight off the lies that will creep into your mind. If running makes you feel like you're on top of the world, do it. If you like to read the Bible, read it; if you are feeling any self-doubt, you will surely be reminded who you are while reading those pages. If you are really passionate about drawing, find a quiet place and rest your mind in what you are drawing. Do whatever fills you and allows you to be at peace with yourself. You were created beautifully and perfectly, and what is on your plate this holiday season does not control you. It is not too late into the season to start eating healthier or working out, and it is never too late to start respecting yourself and your body. Love yourself, and your body, and your soul, because you deserve it.