Ignore my old post. Let’s talk (educatedly) about holiday food!
I see a lot of people on these forums say that they’re so nervous for the holidays, and they’re afraid they’ll gain weight from eating holiday meals. It reminds me of the old ED forums where the people would have full-on panic attacks about the holidays. It even reminds me of myself, terrified of being caught doing behaviors during Thanksgiving or Christmas, but also terrified of gaining weight. Frankly, it makes me sad for the people who prioritize losing weight over enjoying themselves on a holiday. I do understand that sometimes it’s very hard for people to lose weight, and that some people have been working very hard to maintain. But holidays are supposed to be a time where most of us can actually relax with our loved ones, and forget about the things that usually give us stress.
I’m sure that most people’s worry lies not within the food itself, but their own self control. And while I understand that, it’s hard for me to understand why letting yourself have a good amount of hearty food for maybe a few days is so terrifying. I believe that if we can tap into our Intuitive Eating, even if it’s just for the holiday, we can keep ourselves from going “overboard”. Too many people will eat until past the point of fullness because they have the mindset that this will be their only “special meal”, so they overeat. I believe we can makes things so much better if we just change that mindset to something more neutral, like: “This is a good meal. I’m going to enjoy it because it’s good, not because it’s “special” or “rare” for us.”
I am not in any way trying to shame anyone for being afraid to gain weight during the holidays. It’s a reasonable fear, but it can also be problematic for your psyche. Gaining a few pounds does not make you fat. Your body will not change from one meal. You will be okay. Those are things I can promise.
I hope everyone enjoys themselves this holiday season, and doesn’t let fear or stress hold you back from being happy!
