Holiday temptations? Take a leap in January!

Most of us want to feel safe, perhaps even more so during the holidays. However, if you have food addictions, it can be difficult to feel safe during the holiday season.

Everyone knows that the holidays bring gastronomic temptations. It is simply accepted that we will eat those foods, gain weight, and set the same weight loss resolution that we set last year and the year before.

What makes this worse is how constant the temptations are: every day, all day, even more than usual. Seasonal stress doesn’t help either: long lines, crowds everywhere, parties, the financial pressure of Christmas gifts, much more.

These stresses can, and do, lead to emotional eating. And if we feel like we’re about to give in to emotional cues, the tempting foods are there.

The worst Christmas stress?

Family pressures can be the worst. Who is the “food pusher” in your family?

A client of mine had food battles with her mom all season long. Mom would make the Christmas treats that she knew her daughter loved. My client told his mother that he didn’t want the candy because she was trying to lose weight. He told mom not to have them either because they weren’t healthy.

Well, mom never changed her behavior and continued to promote homemade treats. My client never developed better arguments. It took me a while to realize that my client wanted to lose the battle. It was the “victim” excuse for him to eat the festive foods.

What can you do instead?

Let’s say you want to win this holiday season. Here are suggestions to help you feel more secure.

• Set your health goals right now: weight loss, health, better mood, more energy. Make December your Health Month.

• Refuse to eat junk that could sabotage those goals.

• Exercise every day. I use effective 10-12 minute High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) workouts that anyone can fit into a busy day.

• Do not bring food home from Christmas parties, even if it is offered repeatedly.

• If you can’t refuse the food, stop at the nearest garbage can on the way home and throw it away. DO NOT take it home and pretend you won’t eat it.

• If you are going to a potluck, bring a healthy plate: salad, grilled vegetables, fresh fruit and nuts for dessert.

• Focus on family and friends. Make others feel safe during the holidays. Send prayers of healing and love to everyone you know.

Yes, this will require discipline. TARGET!

Temptations will tempt you less because you set solid goals. December will feel safe. And you will feel safe.

“Every day you push a little, you eat a little better, maybe harder, you go to bed a little earlier.” -Jonathan Horton, gymnast