Christmas Survival Guide
Stressed at the thought of overdoing it?
At this time of year, many of my clients worry about being faced with the pressure to constantly eat and drink during the holidays. Whilst it’s lovely to be able to celebrate Christmas and enjoy traditional favourites, it’s the feeling of being out of control that we don’t like. And with good reason.
There’s enormous pressure to spend a small fortune on Christmas goodies when we shop, and we’re surrounded by temptation wherever we go.
But we’re also told to relax and enjoy ourselves and that we shouldn’t get so hung up about food and dieting. This is all well and good, but what about that little voice in our heads that makes us feel guilty and worry about those pounds that we literally feel creeping on by the day? It’s no wonder we feel confused and stressed by it all.
To help you have the best Christmas - because you absolutely deserve it - here’s my guide to doing Christmas on your terms and feeling good about whatever choice you make.
Christmas on your terms
What would make Christmas special for you? We’re often so focused on making it special for everyone else, we don’t take ourselves into consideration.
Long before Coca-Cola turned Santa Red (which is true, the original Santa figure was white), and toy and food manufacturers got in on the act, Christmas was about bringing light to the darkest time of the year. One of my clients recently reminded me of this and I’ve found this helps me simplify what this time of year is really about.
While the supermarkets would have us believe that Christmas is all about eating and drinking, there’s so much more to it. Because everyone else is on holiday, we get a real break from work and life admin. It’s one of the few times of the year when we can truly relax and switch off and enjoy spending time with friends and family and having precious time to ourselves.
Setting Food Boundaries
We set boundaries in many areas of our lives, so why not set food boundaries too? This simply means making conscious decisions about what and how we want to eat.
Food guilt comes when we feel out of control with eating. We often eat without thinking, then wish we’d behaved differently after. This year, ask yourself, how would you like to enjoy Christmas food. Have a clear idea of what and how you want to eat.
As you do this, be aware of the different types of eating and drinking behaviours:
Unconscious eating is grabbing a handful of celebrations every time you walk past a tin or eating whatever someone puts in front of you without thinking.
Pressured eating is feeling obliged to eat something because someone wants you to.
Ego eating is eating when you are experiencing negative emotions or feeling sorry for yourself.
Conscious eating is deciding to indulge in your favourite things about Christmas food, and enjoying them fully and without guilt.
Ideally, you want to do more conscious eating, and balance those treats out with enjoyable and nutritious food which makes you feel good for a different reason. Eating this way means you won't feel deprived and are likely to eat much less than you normally would.
Allow the break to restore you
By this time of the year, many of us are desperate for a break. But a week or more of overeating and drinking too much alcohol can leave us feeling worse in January, which is why so many people start the New Year with a detox.
January is a bleak month, and a hard detox is one way to make it even more miserable. So instead of letting Christmas be a mindless blow-out, take time for yourself and do things during the break that restore you.
Count nutrition, not calories. Make the most of having extra time to make yourself tasty, filling and nutritious meals. Try and eat protein at each meal, have plenty of veg and eat fewer carbs. This will fill you up and make you less likely to crave snacks.
Enjoy your favourite treats and eat them mindfully. Drop the guilt and allow yourself to really enjoy your festive favourites. The only rule is to pay attention to every mouthful and savour every bite. When you stop enjoying it, just leave the rest for later.
Plan some alcohol-free days. There are plenty of alternative options available now that mean you won’t feel like you are missing out. Try 0% lagers, wines and spirits, or just opt for sophisticated mixers. Don’t forget to use a lovely glass so you still get that sense of occasion.
Please yourself, don’t be a people-pleaser. You make the rules. Eat and drink what you want, for yourself and no-one else!
Make time to listen to your body. Take full advantage of having to do less this Christmas. Learn to pay attention to what you need. Would you feel better after a bracing walk, or do you really need to curl up on the sofa and watch TV all day? We need rest and recovery just as much as we need exercise. At Christmas, you have more time to do both.
News
New Online Programme Available in January.
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