Most of us want to feel safe, maybe even more so during the holidays. However, if you have food addictions, it can be difficult to feel safe during the holiday season.
Everyone knows that the holidays bring gastronomic temptations. It is simply accepted that we will eat those foods, gain weight and establish the same weight loss resolution that we established last year and the year before.
What makes this worse is how constant the temptations are: every day, all day, even more than usual. Seasonal stress doesn’t help either: long lines, crowds everywhere, parties, the financial strain of holiday gifts, much more.
These stresses can, and do, lead to emotional eating. And if we feel like we’re about to give in to emotional cues, tempting foods are there.
The worst Christmas stress?
Family pressures can be the worst. Who is the “food pusher” in your family?
A client of mine had food battles with her mom all season. Mom would make the Christmas treats that she knew her daughter loved. My client told his mother that he didn’t want the treats because she was trying to lose weight. He told mom that he shouldn’t have them either because they weren’t healthy.
Well, mom never changed her behavior and continued to promote homemade delicacies. My client never developed better arguments. It took me a while to realize that my client wanted to lose the battle. It was his “victim” excuse for eating the festive foods.
What can you do instead?
Suppose you want to win this Christmas season. Here are suggestions to help you feel more confident.
• Set your health goals right now: weight loss, health, better mood, more energy. Make December your Health Month.
• Refuse to eat junk that can sabotage those goals.
• Exercise every day. I use effective 10-12 minute High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) workouts that anyone can fit into a busy day.
• Don’t bring food home from holiday parties, even if it is offered repeatedly.
• If you can’t refuse food, stop at the nearest dumpster on the way home and throw it away. DO NOT take it home and pretend you won’t eat it.
• If you go to a potluck, bring a healthy plate: salad, grilled vegetables, fresh fruit, and nuts for dessert.
• Focus on family and friends. Make others feel safe during parties. Send prayers of healing and love to everyone you know.
Yes, this will require discipline. OBJECTIVE!
Temptations will tempt you less because you set solid goals. December will feel safe. And you will feel safe.
“Every day you push a little bit, you eat a little better, maybe harder, you go to bed a little earlier.” -Jonathan Horton, gymnast