Wish you could hit the reset button after the holidays? You’re not alone. After weeks of holiday feasts, sugary treats, late nights, and extra stress, it’s easy to end the season feeling sluggish, bloated, or just plain “blah.”
If your clothes feel tighter or if your energy is low, your body may be asking for a little TLC. That’s where a post-holiday detox comes in. It gives your body a break to help it reset from overindulgence.
So if you’re ready to reclaim your energy (and your waistline) with Shape Reclaimed, read on. I’ll share simple ways to support your detox pathways so you can feel better and kickstart a healthy New Year.
Why Do a Post-Holiday Reset?
Your body has a built-in detoxification system that works around the clock. But during the holidays, excess sugar, alcohol, stress, and lack of sleep can make your detox pathways work overtime.
A post-holiday detox helps your body recalibrate. And by ‘detox,’ I don’t mean juice cleanses or extreme diets. I mean, simple habits that support natural detoxification, so you can start the year refreshed and energized.
Gentle Ways to Detox After the Holidays
1 – Stick to whole foods
To reset your body from the holidays, focus on eating real, whole foods. Think fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats. These foods flood your body with nutrients to help you recover and feel your best.
Try to limit processed foods and added sugars as much as you can. This will help get your digestion back on track and calm those pesky sugar cravings. If you’re not sure where to start, check out this list of the 10 best detox foods.
2 – Eat more fiber
Fiber is your digestive system’s best friend, especially if the holidays left you a little “backed up.” It helps your body eliminate waste and keep things moving smoothly.1 Plus, it helps stabilize your blood sugar to prevent those dreaded energy crashes.
One of the easiest ways to boost your fiber intake is to add more plant foods to your meals, like:
- Fruit, especially raspberries, apples, and pears
- Leafy greens like kale and collard greens
- Legumes (e.g., lentils, chickpeas, black beans)
- Whole grains (oats, quinoa, barley, etc.)
- Avocados
Even a few servings a day can make a big difference in improving your digestion and energy.
3 – Clean out your pantry
If you want a fresh start for the year ahead, start by clearing out your kitchen. Remove any sugary treats, processed snacks, or anything that tempts you to overindulge. That might mean tossing leftover Christmas cookies, holiday candy, or any sugary snacks you’ve been “saving.”
Once you have a clean slate, restock your kitchen with nourishing staples like fresh produce, nuts, seeds, and whole grains. When your pantry’s full of real food, it’s much easier to make healthy choices.
4 – Step up hydration
The holiday rush makes it easy to forget to drink enough water. But hydration is a must to help your body flush out excess sugar, alcohol, and toxins.
To help your body reset, drink at least eight glasses of water per day. Herbal teas are a great choice, too. Want a simple boost? Start your day with a glass of warm water and lemon to kickstart digestion. 2
5 – Reset your sleep routine
Sleep is crucial for your health – that’s no secret. It affects your hormones, mood, metabolism, detox, and much more. 3 But holiday parties, family visits, and travel can throw off your routine fast.
Getting back into a consistent sleep schedule is one of the best ways to help your body recover. Aim for 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night. Limit screens before bedtime and try a relaxing ritual like reading or stretching to help your body wind down.
6 – Get moving
If you fell out of your fitness routine over the holidays, now is a great time to ease back in. Exercise boosts your mood, improves blood flow, burns calories, and helps your body release toxins in your sweat.4
Aim for some type of movement every day, even if it’s light. A brisk walk, a quick yoga sequence, or a short strength workout all add up. And look for small ways to move more throughout your day. Take the stairs, park farther away, or do movement breaks between tasks at work.
7 – Support your lymphatic system
Your lymphatic system is a VIP in your body’s natural detox network. It helps escort waste and toxins out of your body. But unlike your circulatory system, it doesn’t have a pump. It relies on movement and lifestyle to keep things flowing.
Simple daily habits can give it a boost. Try gentle practices like deep breathing, rebounding, or dry brushing to encourage healthy lymph flow. Want more ideas? Check out my guide with 10 easy ways to support your lymphatic system.
8 – Try intermittent fasting
Intermittent fasting (IF), also known as time-restricted eating, gives your digestive system a break. This lets your body put more energy towards repair, including detox. Evidence suggests IF may promote fat burning, calm inflammation, and even reduce the risk of chronic disease.5
One simple approach is to maintain a 12-hour fasting window between dinner and breakfast. Just don’t skip meals entirely. Going too long without food can actually backfire and slow down your metabolism.
9 – Ease stress
Stress tends to spike during the holidays, and it can take a real toll on your body.6 It affects your sleep, mood, metabolism, and even detox.
Prolonged stress keeps your body stuck in “fight or flight” mode. And detoxification works best when you’re in a calm, parasympathetic state. Simple self-care habits can help. Try deep breathing, meditation, gentle yoga, vagus nerve exercises, or just taking a few minutes each day to step away from your to-do list.
Many holistic therapies can also help reset your nervous system from holiday stress. Acupuncture, massage therapy, and chiropractic care all ease tension and promote a calmer state of mind. If you live near Chicago, we offer all three at our Orland Park wellness clinic.
Shape ReClaimed: The Ultimate Post-Holiday Detox
The tips above can go a long way in helping your body reset after the holidays. But if you feel like you need more support, a holistic doctor using Shape ReClaimed at Anchored in Health can provide a structured plan to help you kickstart a healthy new year.
Shape ReClaimed isn’t a cleanse or strict diet. It’s a healthy lifestyle restoration plan that helps rebalance your hormones, support your metabolism, and encourage gentle detox.
It focuses on anti-inflammatory whole foods and provides plenty of tasty recipes, so you’re never stuck on what to eat. Whether you want to lose weight, feel more energized, or reduce cravings, Shape ReClaimed offers a clear path forward.
Shed Holiday Weight & Reset Your Body with Shape ReClaimed in Orland Park, IL
If you’re ready to banish the holiday bloat and feel lighter and more energized, Shape ReClaimed can help you get there. At Anchored in Health in Orland Park, IL our holistic doctor is proud to offer this lifestyle restoration and weight loss program.
Live in the Chicago area and ready to make this your healthiest year yet? Here’s how to get started:
- Contact our holistic doctor to see if Shape ReClaimed is right for you.
- Set up weekly check-ins at Anchored in Health.
- Rebalance your body and enjoy the benefits of a healthier you.
Other Holistic Health Services Offered at Anchored in Health in Orland Park, IL
Anchored in Health offers Chicagoans a variety of services to help you feel your best. We offer functional medicine, genetic testing, thermography, and Vibrant Wellness testing to get to the root of your chronic symptoms. We also provide chiropractic care, acupuncture, and massage therapy to relieve pain and help balance your nervous system.
If you live in the Chicago area and are looking to take a more holistic approach to your health, we’re here to help. Contact us to learn more.
Disclaimer: The information provided on this blog is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The content is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition.
Reading this blog does not establish a doctor-patient relationship between you and Anchored In Health or any of its practitioners. Reliance on any information provided in this blog is solely at your own risk.
Sources:
- Effect of dietary fiber on constipation: A meta analysis | PMC
- Is Starting Your Day with Lemone Water Healthy? | Cleveland Clinic
- Exploring the Role of Circadian Rhythms in Sleep and Recovery: A Review Article | PMC
- Physical activity for health | PMC
- Intermittent Fasting and Metabolic Health | PMC
- Even a joyous holiday season can cause stress for most Americans | American Psychological Association
