The Truth About The Day After Christmas

The Day After Christmas — Don’t “Start Over,” Just Start Again

By: Marcy Schoenborn

**Get my Reset Checklist: write to BeHealthy@SchoFitNutrition.com and ask for The Day After Christmas Checklist.

December 26th has a weird energy.

Some people wake up motivated.
Some wake up guilty.
Most wake up bloated, tired, and a little foggy — physically and mentally.

Let me say this clearly:

You did not “ruin” your health because you enjoyed Christmas.

Health isn’t built or destroyed in a single day.
It’s shaped by what you do consistently, especially after moments of indulgence.

Today isn’t about punishment.
It’s about re-anchoring your body.

🎄 What Your Body Needs Today (Not a Detox)

Your liver, kidneys, gut, and lymphatic system are already detoxing for you.
What they need is support, not restriction.

Here’s what actually helps — and what I coach my clients to focus on the day after Christmas:

🥤 1. Hydrate Before You “Fix” Anything

Holiday food + sugar + alcohol + salty snacks = dehydration.

Before changing food, supplements, or exercise:

• Drink water

• Add minerals or electrolytes if you feel sluggish

• Warm fluids (herbal tea, lemon water) calm digestion

💡 Most post-holiday fatigue is dehydration, not failure.

🥗 2. Eat Real Food — Not “Less Food”

Skipping meals today sends the wrong signal to your body.

Instead:

• Protein at every meal

• Fiber from vegetables, berries, or whole foods

• Healthy fats to stabilize blood sugar

Your body doesn’t need fewer calories —
it needs better information.

🚶‍♀️ 3. Gentle Movement Beats “Burning It Off”

Today is not the day for punishment workouts.

Choose:

• Walking

• Stretching

• Light strength or mobility work

Movement helps:

• Blood sugar regulation

• Lymphatic drainage

• Mood and digestion

🔥 Exercise is not a confession booth.

😴 4. Reset Sleep, Not Willpower

Late nights disrupt hormones far more than dessert does.

Tonight:

• Aim for an earlier bedtime

• Dim lights after dinner

• Avoid scrolling in bed

Good sleep restores:

• Appetite hormones

• Insulin sensitivity

• Stress resilience

Sleep is the most underrated reset tool we have.

🧠 5. Drop the “All or Nothing” Talk

This is the habit that actually derails progress.

If your inner dialogue sounds like:

• “I blew it”

• “I’ll start Monday”

• “I need to be strict now”

Pause.

Health is not built through punishment cycles.
It’s built through returning to baseline calmly.

Progress comes from:
✔ Consistency
✔ Recovery
✔ Grace

Not extremes.

✨ The Truth About the Day After Christmas

The healthiest thing you can do today is simple:

Resume your normal healthy habits without drama.

No detox.
No restriction.
No guilt.

Just nourishment, movement, rest, and hydration.

That’s how real, lasting health is built —
one ordinary, intentional day at a time.

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