How Do You Handle the Holidays?
anorangie
Posts: 975 Member
The holidays are fast approaching. 
As celebratory as the holiday season is, stress and family-related anxiety are especially high for some during this time of year.
If you are one of those people who struggle emotionally during the holiday season or who seem to experience lots of binge triggers during this time, what are some of your coping and self-care strategies?
How do you stay mentally, emotionally, or physically well during the holidays?
As celebratory as the holiday season is, stress and family-related anxiety are especially high for some during this time of year.
If you are one of those people who struggle emotionally during the holiday season or who seem to experience lots of binge triggers during this time, what are some of your coping and self-care strategies?
How do you stay mentally, emotionally, or physically well during the holidays?
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Replies
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I would love to know this too. This time of year is difficult for me, for a lot of us actually, and I usually eat a lot. Too much.0
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i struggle this time of year also. Oddly enough, I ususally do fine up until Christmas. From Christmas through New Years...completer free for all. I'm hoping to change that, this year. Last year I gained almost 10 in a week. Ugh!0
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This will be the first year of my life that I spend the holidays away from my family, so at least I won't have a cascade of cakes and cookies to have to resist. I love my mother dearly, but as you might expect, her way of showing love at Christmas is a gallon sized ziplock bag full of cookies.0
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I have had seasonal depression for the past 3-4 years. I just joined a gym since I know working out helps me feel better. I try to avoid sitting at home because that is when I binge the most. I also don't deny myself something little.0
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Winter is always difficult for me anyway, and I also suffer depression more at this time of year.
Christmas I am dreading, to be honest, as I go to my mother's and she buys in so much food, including biscuits, cake, chocolates, mince pies and various other things, which are a nightmare for someone who is prone to binge eating with a taste of wheat/sugar.
I am hoping to go for jogs or do some form of exercise while there, even on xmas day, regardless of how annoying she might find it, as exercise does seem to help keep me on track.
Also plan on trying to fill up on protein and veggies at mealtimes to help.0 -
Thanks, everyone, for sharing.
I had my first holiday event with extended family on Saturday. As expected, it was stressful.
What helped me mentally/emotionally that day was prayer and being silent when my words would not change anything. (In other words, I tried my best not to be reactive.)
What helped me eating-wise was eating my protein first, then my veggies, and lastly one piece of bread with butter. And that was enough!
I think you all are right about the importance of staying busy and physically active. I just started doing some of the Leslie Sansone walking videos, and I was able to do one Saturday evening, too. I always feel so good after those LS workouts...better than when I do other aerobic activities like cycling or cardio machines. I like those, too, but there is something about the LS videos that just makes me...happy.
This happens enough that I should anticipate it and work out a way to overcome it---
Saturday I was good--no binge. But, often, the day _after_ an interaction with one of my identified trigger peeps or situations I find myself just blue, blue, blue. No motivation to do much, and I am especially susceptible to binging at that time. So Sunday I did binge.
But then I went ahead and followed through with my exercise plan, too. (I used that "I'll do 5-minutes and see how it goes" idea to get started, and I then wanted to finish.) Now I know for sure that it is vitally important to get up early and _get moving_ the day after "the stressful day." I don't want those stressful interactions to knock me out anymore!
One of our group members posted this quote in November challenge thread: "If hunger is not the problem, then food is not the solution." --Michelle May
I'm going to try to make that my new mantra. I think this week I'll also try to meditate on that for which I'm thankful. It seems like the perfect time, lol.
I hope you have a good week and Thanksgiving, everyone. Keep movin'. :flowerforyou:0 -
I did okay for 2 weeks and staying binge free till Thanksgiving. Then I let my guard down and ended up binging the entire weekend. This is my second day back on track, and I'm trying to stay strong and take it one day at a time. Christmas..I'm not entirely sure whats going on, might just have a mini feast home with my fiancee, which is not too bad if we dont get out..(if we do, then ill worry lol) New Year's is usually a big one..actually greater then a Thanksgiving meal. Buffet style meals and goodies, and some healthy options like fruits/veggies and salads. Winter all around is pretty tough because its cold, and all I wanna do is veg out and eat.0
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My mum buys me a lot of chocolate for Christmas and there is always chocolate in the kitchen at work. Christmas day is one long binge.
I usually keep a small amount of the nice Christmas chocolate for myself as a treat and take the rest into work so that it is not in the house. I also give some to my boyfriend to eat as long as he hides it somewhere. I treat the holiday like any other day. I allow myself to have some treats but in smaller treat size portions. I like to do some exercise on Christmas morning (after presents) if I have time then I don't feel so bad about Christmas dinner. We all help ourselves at the table so I choose a smaller portion and leave room for a small amount of desert.
Also if you do binge on Christmas day just treat it as a one off and make sure that it does not continue into Boxing Day. It is about the cycle of guilt and comfort eating so if you can make yourself feel better about the guilt then you're halfway there.
Oh also don' sit near the food!0 -
well we have a party coming up at work this week and a potluck next week. my strategy will be to take a small spoonful of each thing and try to log as best i can. i know i won't be exact, but if i log it, at least i'll know and it won't be a free for all. i plan on still enjoying some things. i have to have that internal dialogue with myself about whether i am actually hungry or just want to taste something. i think it's ok to enjoy a little, we just have to be mindful as binge eaters that one food can trigger us. we may come into an event thinking we will be ok but the trigger food can start us down that path.0
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So much for my holiday tips lol! I have spent the entire Christmas week binging on chocolate and desserts. I tried to start fresh on Friday but we went to stay with my boyfriends mum and she always asks us if we would like a chocolate every five minutes. My self control seems to have slipped.
Today is a new day and a new week so hopefully I can get back on track. I was doing so well in December too! Feel really bloated and a bit nauseous this morning but I did do some exercise.
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So much for my holiday tips lol! I have spent the entire Christmas week binging on chocolate and desserts. I tried to start fresh on Friday but we went to stay with my boyfriends mum and she always asks us if we would like a chocolate every five minutes. My self control seems to have slipped.
Today is a new day and a new week so hopefully I can get back on track. I was doing so well in December too! Feel really bloated and a bit nauseous this morning but I did do some exercise.
:mad:
Sorry you binged!
You're right though on the tips, treat a holiday as any other day! Unfortunately Christmas didn't go so well for me , either!0
