We all overindulge at Christmas. For the vast majority that’s just fine. But, there are large numbers of people who are dreading Christmas because they feel they will not be able to cope with all the food about, and binge out of control.
How bad is that dreading what should be the best part of the year. But don’t worry here’s my top tips of how to cope with the vast amounts of food around this Christmas and hopefully, have a great time.
1. Turn up
Lots of people dread going to events where there is lots of food about. So they make excuses, they come late, go early or simply just not go at all. DON’T DO THAT. Just think about it for a second. Do you really want to miss spending happy times with people you love. JUST GO and if you follow the other tips you will have a great time.
2. Don’t ‘cut back’
You know how it is, you are expecting to eat a lot in the evening, so you cut back all day, to ‘make up for it’. We keep on with this idea of ‘cutting back’ even when we know it always ends the same. And it’s not good. Once your blood sugar is low and you get that shaky feeling no amount of will power will stop you once you start eating. DON’T DO THAT, eat regularly throughout the day and food will simply lose it’s importance and you can get on with enjoying yourself.
3. Plan a little
We’ve all been there. You usually eat your evening meal at 6pm but are going out for a meal at 8pm. What do you do. Well you don’t have your usual meal at 6pm, so you can ‘save yourself’ for the meal. DON’T DO THAT – have a snack or a sandwich to put you on. You’ll still feel like eating later.
If you don’t, you know what will happen, like it always does. You get to the restaurant at 7:50, you are hungry because you now realise you have not eaten since lunch at 1:00. But, don’t worry, you will soon be eating, or will you?
When you arrive you are shown to the bar while your table is cleared, you start looking around for nibbles on the bar, no luck. By 8:20 you are finally seated – not long now and the hunger really grips your stomach, where is that waiter? 8:30 the waiter shows up and slowly starts to take the order. There’s always ‘that one friend’ who has not looked at the menu and needs everything explained – IN DETAIL. You are really hungry now. Some are having a starter – better have one or you will have to wait till they have finished before the main course is served.
Finally 8:50 the order is taken – ravenous now how long will it be. The minutes drag and you are feeling more and more hungry and very impatient. Where the hell is the food. At 9:10, out of the blue the waiter puts down a bread basket and you pounce on it. Finally the food comes and somehow you still feel hungry and finish off with the cheese board.
Suddenly the bread kicks in and you start to bloat and feel uncomfortable.
4. At the party
You’re at a party and eat more than you planned and you feel bad about your lack of discipline. DON’T DO THAT. Instead shrug your shoulders and say – ‘so what, nobody died.’ Look around…. everybody else is enjoying the food and having a great time. That’s what you’re supposed to do – It’s normal at this time of year cut yourself some slack.
Remember you have come to have a good time and part of that is enjoying food with friends. You’ve eaten the food that someone has lovingly prepared the very least you can do is enjoy it and also enjoy the rest of the evening.
Some people, especially, since so called ‘clean eating’ became so fashionable, look at food as being either ‘good’ or ‘bad’. If this is you – DON’T DO THAT – have a day off – it’s just food and none of it is poison. Just think of how you host would feel. Having gone to all the trouble putting on a great evening – knowing you are judging them and finding them wanting – pretend you are fine – you might have to ‘fake it before you make it’. But you will have a much better time and so will everyone else.
Some people are very rude and might comment on what you are eating. If this happens to you I always reply with ‘I’m very lucky I can eat anything I want and never gain an ounce.’ It shuts them up in a fun way.
5. The morning after
The next day make sure you kick-start your metabolism by eating a hearty breakfast. Your body will thank you for it. While you are eating, smile to yourself and remember what a great time you had the night before and how you coped/survived the great binge fest.
Follow these simple rules and you will really enjoy Christmas. Now you’ve done it once, you can do it again with the knowledge that nothing bad happened – great or what.
Hi Tony Just wanted to say a huge thank you for all your help. When we started the sessions I was at such a loss as to what to eat and when. I was unable to see clearly as it felt like I was stuck in a constant binge, starve cycle. Thanks to your help I feel so much…
Im pleased to let you know I’m doing great!
I had a lovely Christmas (despite being ill!) and it’s the first one in years that I haven’t spiralled, binged and put on noticeable weight.
Didn’t quite stick with 3 meals & snacks over the festive period with all the goings on but did my best, and like I said managed to not overeat in ways I previously have.
The best thing was I didn’t have the urge or feel out of control at any point which is a massive step in the right direction compared to past years.
Another positive is that I’ve managed to settle easily back into the meal timings and feel it has just become a habit now, which is great.
Doing ok at present. Am up and about now and still no binges. Weight slowly coming off.
I’ve been feeling great!
Just wanted to message you to tell you that I realised yesterday I had 3 days of complete freedom! I say I ‘realised’ because at the time I was enjoying myself too much to even notice that I hadn’t thought about food, or my body, or my clothes etc etc.
Wow!
Exactly what I want.
I met with Tony for a session after a friend recommended him to me. I have a lifetime of issues about food and have been on some sort of diet for 30 + years.
He is a very approachable , friendly , patient and kind man and took time to listen to me and discuss my issues from the questionnaire that he had sent to me before we met.
He worked out that I was not actually eating enough at each meal and each day and explained why food was needed and how the body processed it and what happened it f you weren’t eating enough food.
One thing I found extremely powerful and helpful was the image therapy that he asked me to do. I have used this daily and it has really helped me work towards my goal.
I am also eating more food and feeling much better for it! I also feel much more in control and happier. I would recommend Tony to anyone wanting to get their relationship with food back to a happy and content one
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