Worried about eating and drinking over the festive period?

~ Laura Betts

Are you nervous about how much food and drink you’re going to consume over the festive period? Or maybe you are restricting your consumption now to “make up” for the inevitable overindulging of classic Christmas “musts”? Potentially you are already in a “F*** it, I’ll start again in the new year” mindset?

Ideally we all want to enjoy the festive period without fear or guilt; without that niggle in the back of our mind telling us that we are bad for saying yes to an extra mince pie or glass of mulled wine. 

So how do we combat the critical thoughts and learn to enjoy our Christmas and New year without restriction, guilt, fear or even a “F*** it” mentality. 

Firstly, ask yourself these questions:

1. What is my priority for this festive period? 

2. How do my yearly traditions make me feel? 

3. Do I need to say yes to everything offered to me, in order to enjoy my Christmas? Can I say no without it being restrictive? Can I make mindful choices?

4. What are the biggest worries or obstacles that I will face?

5. What can I do to manage and take charge of these obstacles?

Think about your answers, and be honest with yourself. It’s ok to realise that some of your traditions don’t actually sit well with you anymore, or that the main obstacle you will face is your unwillingness to say no to the feeder of the family. 

Figuring out your answers to these questions can help you to understand; where your anxieties lie, what your current priorities are and also potentially help you to allow yourself to take charge of your actions, so you can hopefully enjoy Christmas. 

Secondly, let’s understand that Christmas is about more than food and drink. Sure, for the majority of cultural holidays food and drink play a huge part, and for good reason. 

Eating and drinking can bring together a community, a family; it allows people to gather and enjoy a shared experience. Food is more than just fuel for survival, it is a moment, a memory, a comfort, an experience, a pleasure and periods like Christmas bring all of this to the forefront.

However, do you need to fill the house with every festive treat going in order to have a fulfilling Christmas? No. 

Do you need to eat until you are bursting at the seams every day between Christmas and New Year, just to get rid of all the leftovers ready for a “fresh start” come Jan 1st? No. 

Can you say no thank you to an extra potion, or still stick to your gym schedule during this time if you want to? Yes.

Christmas is about more than just food and drink, you don’t have to press pause on life until after the New Year. You can keep doing you whilst including some yearly traditions, free of guilt and free from fear.

For the majority of people the priority for Christmas and New year is simply to enjoy it. To spend time with friends and family and make memories that will last long past the tin of quality street under the Christmas tree. So why do so many of us worry about putting on weight or losing progress and allow this to limit our enjoyment?

Unfortunately we are lead to believe that: 

• Our appearance matters more that it actually does

• That we will be happier if we change our aesthetics (ie. weight loss)

• That we will lose all of our previous progress if we take our foot off the pedal even for a second

But even though we are continually fed these statements, and others like them, none of them are actually true. 

If you gain weight over Christmas… guess what… not only does it not change your worth but you can also lose it again. 

If you take some time away from the gym; you won’t lose all your progress.

If you add a few pounds to the scale due to enjoying yourself and making memories… then you have nothing to regret. 

You have choices over Christmas, just like you have choices at every other part of the year. You don’t have to enter a completely different mindset or set of behaviours purely because “tis the season”. However, you can also enjoy yourself and partake in as many traditions as you would like to, without shame or regret. You are in charge of your decisions; own them.

So to summarise; when worrying about all the eating and drinking that is going to present itself throughout the rest of the year, try to:

Take charge. Make memories. Enjoy yourself.  

Covid took over your Christmas last year; don’t allow calorie counting to take over this one. 

*note that if you struggle with an ED or disordered eating you would benefit from seeking professional support to help you through this time of year.

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