Around holidays, the desire to diet can get so damn strong. It’s easy to feel guilty about eating.
You know you’re meant to relax around food but when you do, you feel so terrible about your weight and the guilt can ruin a holiday.
- You imagine that family you haven’t seen in a long time will judge your body or appearance.
- You feel scared to wear a dress or can’t find anything to wear that makes you feel comfortable…
- You cringe when you see a photo of yourself and then can’t enjoy the moment because you’re too busy thinking about your weight and appearance.
I know this because food guilt and body hate have ruined way too many of my holidays. And I desperately want 2020 to be the year you stop dieting and hating your body for good.
So, here are some things I really need you to know.
1. It is totally ok to overeat. The holidays are exactly the time to relax around food. If you can’t give yourself permission to relax with food now, when can you?
2. You may gain weight over the holiday. It’s natural. It happens. It’s nothing to worry about. When the holiday is over, you’ll naturally crave lighter food and more movement. Your body will return to its pre-holiday weight when you return to your pre-holiday routine. (And I recommend NEVER weighing yourself anyway)
3. If a family member or ‘friend’ judge your body or food choices this holiday, it is their problem. It’s got nothing to do with your weight and everything to do with their own insecurities.
4. Guilt won’t help eat less or lose weight. It screws with your happiness, isolates you from the people you love and ruins what is meant to be a happy time.
5. Guilt doesn’t help you eat healthier. it sets you up for all-or-nothing thinking which leads to under-eating, followed by out-of-control overeating.
Imagine your brain is a radio.
When you hear that voice, try to see if you can change the channel. Every time the voice pipes up again, practice changing the channel back to self-acceptance again.
For example, I started by simply telling myself:
- “It’s not my life’s purpose to have a flat stomach and look good from every angle.”
- “I’m exactly where I’m meant to be”
- “I accept myself – and I accept others”
- “My body is allowed to change. I trust that my body will look after me if I listen to it, instead of criticism”.
- “I’m allowed to relax around food. When I return to my usual routine, my body will return to its usual shape.
If you can have one goal this holiday – or this year – decide that you won’t spend yet another year controlled by body dysmorphia or diet culture.
If you’d love ongoing support on how to stop binge eating and to love your body then read about my online course and how I can help you through private coaching.
How many more years or holidays will be wasted because you never look perfect enough?
At the end of your life, will you remember your soft stomach? Or will you regret how much time you spent worrying about them?
2020 is your year to start thinking differently.
It really is time to live your best life.
I hope your holiday is joyful, healthy and guilt-free.
