The holiday season, like everything else in our society, revolves around food!
We bake treats to give as gifts, and we receive treats as gifts. We also sit down for holiday dinners and eat ourselves into a coma.
It’s fully ingrained, and after a lifetime of living within this particular societal norm, it’s no wonder people struggle to stay on track during the holidays.
Now, some people that pay good money to succeed on the Code Red Lifestyle™ have no problem chucking all their hard work to the wind so they can cheat over the holidays (though most people who cling to that mindset never get their weight off, even with all the tools I provide).
But most truly want to stay on track, and believe me, I get why they’re uneasy.
We attach a lot of emotions to food, and not eating the foods associated with those emotions can feel awkward, disrespectful, or like something’s missing. The little voice in your head is like a devil on your shoulder, sweet-talking you into self-sabotage.
And then there’s other people to contend with. Some will be supportive, but some won’t.
If you dare to abstain from eating, either altogether or even just certain foods, people look at you like you grew a second head right there in front of them. Next come the comments.
“Oh, but it’s the holidays! You’re supposed to eat like this!”
“Surely you can make an exception this one time.”
“Well, just one bite’s not going to hurt anything.”
“It hurts my feelings that you won’t eat this with us.”
Most people mean well. Some are just uncomfortable, because they feel inadequate for not making the same healthy choices you’re making, and aren’t handling it well.
Others simply can’t wrap their mind around somebody not wanting to inhale every crumb of food in sight just because it’s “the holidays.”
Now, does that mean you have to fail over the holidays? Of course not!
Succeeding on the Code Red Lifestyle™ over the holidays is a choice. You make your mind up to stay on track.
Here’s some tips to help you do that, and you can use them for parties and other gatherings, as well as family meals.
1) Remember that nobody’s holding you down shoving food in your mouth. You have complete control over what you eat. Yes, there will likely be people who try to talk you into caving. Plan on it.
Don’t be resentful or bitter toward them. Just accept that it’s probably going to happen. They’re in a different place than you are, and they may struggle to understand you. It doesn’t make them bad people, it just means they’re not ready the way you are.
One of my coaches, Sheli, who’s a successful lawyer, has a lot of experience arguing. That’s exactly why I believe her when she says explaining yourself weakens your position. It gives people more information they can use to argue with you and dissect your logic.
Simply saying “No thank you,” on the other hand, refuses the food without giving them details they can pick apart.
2) Make it about the memories, not about how much food you can inhale. “But Cristy, what I eat is a big part of my memories!” I get that, but instead of caving to it, gaining weight, and making yourself sick and ashamed, choose to make new memories that don’t revolve around food.
3) Come up with a plan. This plan should include deciding, ahead of time, that you’re going to stay on track. Think about some of the comments or questions you may get, and think about how you’ll answer.
Imagine yourself succeeding, over and over, instead of fretting about whether you’ll fail.
What we think about is what becomes reality, so think about what you want, which is to kick butt and stay on track, instead of what you don’t want, which is to cave and sabotage yourself.
Finally, decide exactly how much you’ll eat, and stick to it. Don’t let anyone talk you into anything else, including yourself.
The “but it’s the holidays!” mindset is strong, but my successful Rebels are stronger. So are you.
Make choices you can feel proud of and that help you reach your weight loss goals. The holidays aren’t going anywhere, and who says they have to revolve around food, anyway!