The Holiday Challenge:
Get More Done by Eating Less Fat

Fat is so tasty and yet so terrible for your productivity. You really can get more done by eating less fat during the holidays (and year round) and I’ll show you how.

Photo Credit: Abdulla Al Muhairi

We all know the feeling. You just finished yet another huge holiday meal, you flop on the couch, and can’t move for hours. You feel stuffed, exhausted, and unable to think.

This holiday season you still have the opportunity to trim the fat, sharpen your game, and accomplish more than ever.

Fat is Slowing You Down, Big Time

Though I’m not a doctor, I can read (impressive, right?). What I have read is not surprising and it won’t shock anyone: too much fat is bad for you.

The kicker here is that what most people consider to be a healthy amount of fat is still too much. Waaaaaay too much.

Dr. Douglas Graham, author of The 80/10/10 Diet, recommends you consume no more than 10% of your total calories from fat. I’ll let Dr. Graham explain the science, but take my word for it that he and many other healthy doctors recommend 10% or less.

Regardless of how much fat you are aiming to consume, we all know that excess fat is slowing us down, not only on the treadmill but at the office too.

When you eat too much fat you clog your bloodstream, reduce oxygen to your brain and muscles, and end up feeling really sluggish.

Eating too much fat makes you less efficient when you exercise, which causes you to have to work harder and harder to get the same results.

Also, when you do what I do (stuff your face with hummus and guacamole a little too often), you inhibit your ability to think, process difficult tasks, and access the smartest parts of your brain.

If you truly want to be at your best all the time, consuming less fat is a no brainer.

Outside of drinking an obscene amount of water, the next best thing to do is cut the fat by eating a lot more fruit.

The Challenge: Forgot the Fat and Eat Fruit

Telling anyone to eat less of something they crave is a losing battle. I would much rather encourage you to consume more of the foods you already love.

By eating more low-fat fruits and veggies (and drinking more water) you will automatically eat less fat. It’s a win-win scenario. More fruit equals less fat (assuming you aren’t already gorging on avocados all day long).

Here’s my challenge to you this holiday: every day between now and January 1 do these things:

1. Commit to drinking at least 1 liter of water per day. If you already drink 1 liter, go for 2.
2. Commit to eating 1 piece of fruit at each meal. Also, start your meal with the fruit, don’t save it for last.
3. Commit to not feeling guilty when you eat a batch of cookie dough. I’ve been there. It tastes amazing, but won’t help us with those grand goals we’re working on.

To recap, that’s 1 liter of water, 1 piece of fruit, and no guilt no matter what.

What about after January 1st? Once the new year begins you can re-establish the goals you want to commit to for the next 12 months. For now, let’s just focus on the next few weeks.

I Know, It’s Sounds Too Simple

Simplicity leads to action, success, and pride. Complexity leads to confusion, failure, and regret.

Keeping it simple, especially over the holidays, is likely the only way to guarantee great results.

If you just read this challenge and thought, “Come on Jeff, that’s just too easy. I already do those things and could do even better with little effort.” – then prove it.

Next Week

Next week on the blog I will be announcing a cool contest for the new year. Start brainstorming a few big goals and get your video camera ready!