Holiday stress [eating]

With all the stress, obligation, and frustration that almost always accompanies the holidays, Christmas especially, it is easy to get down on yourself and forget your motivations to better yourself and stay on track. There is so much food, rich and delicious food, that even if you eat the same amount, you are probably taking in at least 1.5x, if not 3x, the amount of calories and sugar you get on a normal day.

In life, you have to take pleasure where you can get it, and if food is really your passion, this is the time to through caution to the wind and indulge. Just try to remember not to overdo it.

But, if you are eating because you are stressed, annoyed, or otherwise depressed about the current situation, remember 5-10 lbs of holiday weight is not going to help or make you feel at all better. Do not put yourself at risk of developing problems later on or make yourself feel like you have to crash diet come January 1.

Dealing with stress and depression around the holidays, specifically when you feel it all year, is incredibly difficult. Try to take time for yourself, remember you can say no to parties and events. But neither can you close yourself off completely. Being alone and lonely at this festive time of year can push you down even further.

Pick an aspect of the season you do like, focus on it and make it your own. For myself, I love Christmas trees, so every year I go and make sure that I get the best tree I can find and then I decorate it in the style that makes me smile and feel festive. Then everyday until the holidays are over, I can look at the tree and put myself in a little better place.

Maybe you like cookies. Volunteer to make cookies for a party, your friends, coworkers, family. Maybe you can experiment with healthier versions that fool everyone into thinking they are the real full fat and sugar thing. That can be your little secret and maybe that is jus the thing you need to put a sneaky smile on your face this time of year-- then you can enjoy them too with less worry of developing a spare tire right around New Years.

Find something that calms you... And if nothing else, slap a smile on your face and fake it til you make it, if only for a few days and occasions, because the looks and questions of "are you okay?", may only deepen your holiday misery.

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas 🎄!