Tis the season

The holidays are especially hard for anyone dealing with an eating disorder or disordered eating. The holidays are hard because the struggles of dealing with an eating disorder or disordered eating in everyday life are magnified x100 during the holidays. There are more events to attend, more dinners, more food centered events to attend. All making it difficult to stay on track with a meal plan, to stay positive, and to practice self care. Also for an extra kicker the holidays end with a specific bang- New Years. With New Year’s right around the corner from the holidays it gives people a lot to talk about at these food centered events….the idea that with the promise of a New Year's there are resolutions to lose weight, to exercise more, to eat ‘healthy’, etc. etc. etc. These irrelevant resolutions are in our face at every holiday gathering we go to, at every store we visit when shopping, and at every work environment. So what do we do when events we attend have people constantly talking about the food we are eating or what they plan on eating in the New Year? Or what do we do when people are talking about their workout routines or their plans for working out in the New Year?

Here’s the thing, we can NOT control what other people will say,

what they will do, or what they will comment on.

What other people will say,

What other people will do,

and what other people will comment on:

IS A REFLECTION ON THEM

It does not have anything to do with what WE need to be doing.

You might be saying ‘but they said x to me so I should….’ or ‘but she said she’s not doing x so I shouldn ….’ but those thoughts are laced with should statements (we know we should stay away from should statements:) and based off of what other people are doing for their bodies. We need to do what is right for our bodies and our peace of mind.

Diet culture is something to talk about, if we let it be the thing to talk about.

So what CAN we do this holiday season when we are faced with comments, talk of New Year’s resolutions, and different unhealthy diet talk? (or is reality anytime of year)

What we CAN do is focus on what we enjoy about the holidays and reframing negative thoughts.

• We can focus on surrounding ourselves with people, family and supports that we love.

• We can focus on our meal plan and checking in with our nutritionist.

• We can focus on taking time for self care and relaxation to nurture ourselves and take care of ourselves.

• We can focus on being involved in conversations that are positive, engaging and about topics that make us comfortable. ***Walk away politely from conversations that make us uncomfortable ex: everyone has to use the bathroom, needs a tissue, gets a phone call, sees someone they need to say hi to. Make an excuse and get out!

• We can focus on love. The holidays are about being with loved ones, being able to express love and appreciation for another person, possibly by gift giving, and being able to recognize you are worthy of love by accepting a gift and love.

Focus on giving and receiving some love this holiday season.

Focus on accepting love from yourself.