Christmas is very food-focussed which can lead to a lot of breakdowns. Whether you eat too much or too little, the sheer volume of food around can be a little overwhelming.
- Try to remember that it is okay to eat slightly more than you normally would around Christmas. It’s cold, so our bodies naturally need more food to keep warm and you will not put on weight overnight. It is okay to give yourself a little treat here and there. Try to take it steady, one bite at a time.
- Breathe. If you are struggling with how much food there is and feel panicky, breathe in for 5 seconds and out for 8. It will calm you down and stimulate your brain. If you need time out, take it. Go up to your room, go for a walk. Do something that allows you to have a break.
- Eat mindfully. This involes being aware of what you are eating. Try to listen to what your body is saying. Really taste the food, smell it and make eating a conscious thought, rather than a passing one. It’s hard but this can help, especially if you struggle with binges.
- If you’re going out and you’re worried about what to eat, look at the menu first. A lot of menus can be accessed on the internet. This way you can decide what you’re having before you go, which can reduce anxiety when you’re there.
- You can eat healthily and still enjoy Christmas. Just because there’s a lot of chocolate around doesn’t mean you have to eat it all. There are no rules or pressure, even if we feel it.
- Christmas is a time where there is a great focus upon food but try not to let that overshadow everything else. There is happiness to be had in other things, such as the music, the atmosphere, fairylights, presents, movies… whatever you enjoy to do around Christmas. Don a Christmas jumper and a silly hat and make yourself smile. Laugh.
Christmas Day is only 24 hours, even if celebrations go on longer than that. Take it day by day or in fifteen minute stints if you have to. Break it down and concentrate on one thing at a time. Food is just that, food. It’s a means to survive, not the obsession that it turns into in our minds. It doesn’t matter what shape you are, you deserve to take care of yourself and to have a good time.
I don’t know if this helps at all but they’re things that have helped me in the past!
