4 tips to create the holiday experience you want while healing your relationship with food and body image

When one is healing their relationship with food and body image, the holiday can be a time that provokes great stress. Many factors can contribute to feeling anxious or discouraged during that time. Some will face challenges due to the exposure they will have with certain food they have labeled as bad. Others will find great discomfort in choosing clothes to attend certain events. Whatever the struggle may be, deciding how you want to spend the holiday is a form of self care.

I ask my clients around this time: what would be most challenging for them to face? We then brainstorm on responses, coping tools and support they will need.

Most people have events, parties and traditions they must attend during the holidays because that is what is expected of them.

However, as we are navigating living with a global pandemic along with other stressors , people are getting more and more motivated to put boundaries in place in order to protect their well being.

Before you jump to the 4 tips, I want to encourage you to envision the holiday experience you want to have if you had the choice.

Take a deep breath, close your eyes and imagine your time off: where are you going? What are you doing? How are you feeling? What are you experiencing?

Are you around people who inspire you? Or people who provoke your wounded parts?

1- Decide what experiences you would like to bring to life this holiday. Wether it’s watching movies , baking cookies or decorating for the holiday you celebrate: Hanukah, Christmas or Kwanza. Calling or facetiming people you want to see? Driving down high 95 to visit family in Miami, Fort Lauderdale or Palm Beach. Whatever it is, make time for it. Create the block in your calendar, choose a date for what you wish to engage in.

2- You can choose who you want to be around and not. As children we didn’t get to choose who was visiting for the holiday where we would eat or what not. As adults news flash: you can. If being around certain people create highly difficult emotions for you, you can decide to skip spending time with them. Particularly if it is around people who discharge their discomfort on others. It is not your responsibility to manage others emotions for them.

3- Be consistent with your meals so that you don’t create a scarcity mindset for yourself. As much as you can, honor your meal plan and schedule eating times. You can even ask a friend who knows you are in recovery to keep you accountable with meals.

4-As always avoid engaging in diet talks, or comparing the food on the plates of those who diet. Many will openly talk about their cleansing pre or post holiday. A good way to protect your peace is to simply redirect the conversation by simply say:

“I don’t like to discuss my weight, body or food choices in any manner that makes me feel objectified.” You can also say:

“My therapist and nutritionist discuss those things with me. I prefer to talk to a professional who specialize in that field. Thank you.”

Ultimately, you can choose to avoid the conversation by simply changing the subject(talk about the new shows you are watching),go on a walk, call a friend, choose a positive and soothing distraction or listen to a supportive podcast.