How are you feeling after Thanksgiving? [Video]

Video: How are you feeling after Thanksgiving?

Dr. Vikki Petersen discusses the impact of post-Thanksgiving indulgence on health and offers strategies to stay healthy through the holidays. She highlights common issues like digestive upset, sugar cravings, and immune system compromise. Dr. Petersen emphasizes the importance of maintaining good habits, preparing healthy snacks for travel, and boosting the immune system. She encourages starting health programs now rather than waiting until January, noting that patients who do so benefit from added support and discipline. For consultations, she invites viewers to contact her clinic.

Transcript of the video

Hello, Dr. Vikki Petersen here. It’s the Monday after Thanksgiving. How did you fare after that major eating holiday? Were you disciplined? Do you feel great today? I do, but that’s kind of what I do for a living, so that goes without saying. But how do you feel? Are you exhausted? Do you have digestive upset? Are you craving sugar like there’s no tomorrow? Do you feel like your immune system is a little compromised? So many lovely things can happen. Or are you just stressed out because you were hosting or traveling during the holiday?

A lot of things can happen around the holidays, and I thought it would be good to regroup post-Thanksgiving and get ready for the rest of the month ahead until the New Year, when we all decide to take better care of ourselves.

You know what I see every year? Patients who start to go downhill beginning with Halloween, and it’s a slippery slope for two plus months until they finally decide to take things in hand again. But it’s really avoidable. You don’t have to eat horribly. You have to decide, but if you want to enjoy the holidays with good energy, not get sick, and not be overly stressed, there’s a lot you can do to handle what you tend to run into over the holidays.

Maybe you always travel and tend to get sick on the plane, or when you get to your destination, or when you get home. For you, it’s more about your immune system. Maybe it’s more about anxiety, so it’s a hormonal or nervous system inflammation issue. Or maybe you get hit harder digestively. Regardless, there are great strategies we can launch into now so you can enjoy the holiday season and not feel like a truck ran over you by January.

I saw a report about a gentleman returning from his honeymoon in Cancun, Mexico. He lives in the UK and had paid over $1,000 for his flight and an upgrade, plus extra for a gluten-free meal. On the 10-hour flight, they had no gluten-free meal for him, and the only food they could offer was some popcorn and chips. Never rely on plane food, especially if you’re plant-based and gluten-free like me. Always travel with enough food to avoid starving and getting cranky.

There’s also a protocol we have for boosting your immune system before, during, and after a flight to make it more robust. This way, even if people are sick on the plane, you’re less likely to get ill with all that recirculated air.

People who start a program at this time of year are always very happy they did. They have more discipline and support to make it through the holidays without trouble. If you’ve been thinking about starting a program, it’s easy to say, “I’ll wait until January,” but those who start now are grateful for the support and direction they receive.

I wanted to share this because I’ve seen it over and over again, and I don’t want you to fall into that pitfall. Whether you’re already a patient or considering becoming one, whether you live locally or long distance, we are here for you.

I spoke to a gentleman this morning from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, who will be here in 48 hours to start a program. He said, “Health is wealth.” He has been suffering for over a year and, after speaking with us, feels encouraged that we can help. Health is indeed wealth. If you have all the money in the world but feel terrible, it doesn’t get you far.

I hope this holiday finds you well, but if you’re not feeling as well as you’d like and want to get healthier starting in the New Year, now is the time to start. Give me a call for a consultation, whether you live locally or not. Our telephone number is 408-733-0400. I’ll talk to you soon.

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