Feeding at the Holiday Trough

Recent quotes from my clients at Healthy Weights:

I just wish the holidays were over.

I can’t even enjoy myself at the party.

Why is food always the ‘main’ event?

Most wonderful time.. more like the most stressful time!

My personal favorite:

I couldn’t enjoy a single conversation because there was cheesecake and and a chocolate fountain erupting in the corner of my eye!

First, recognize that it is natural to feel anxiety about any ‘event’ that might derail your plan.

The trick is to view these challenges as a chance to try new tactics and most importantly, a new way of thinking.

Try changing your approach from being one of PASS or FAIL. Also consider adding some other measures of success beyond food and body weight.

Imagine passing the food test, but failing to have any fun because your entire evening was emotionally spent on not giving into temptation.

Provide the people you are spending time with your full attention, this will drown out the calls from the dessert table and your dieting mind.

Take a gentler approach and compare your behavior at this years gatherings to last years. It certainly isn’t fair to compare with what you would have eaten had you stayed home!

In my next post I’ll discuss how you can use skills, rather than ‘white knuckling’ willpower to not only stay on track but free your mental resources to fully enjoy the food and the people that surround you this holiday season.

Do you relate to the quotes above? Let them know that they are not alone by sharing your holiday thoughts below.