As the holiday season approaches, the word ‘indulgence’ often triggers thoughts of food guilt, leading to a familiar cycle of shame, binging and restriction. For many, this time of year brings conflicted feelings of enjoying festive treats and the pressures imposed by diet culture.
True indulgence is about allowing yourself the pleasure of something without guilt or restraint. However, the pervasive influence of diet culture constantly steers us toward the thin body ideal, promoting messages centred around control and restriction. Christmas, on the contrary, celebrates the abundance of food and particularly treat foods, for those not exposed to food poverty.
‘Last supper’ thinking
During this season, a common phenomenon emerges known as "last supper thinking." It's a mentality that justifies excessive eating over the festive season, with the intention of starting a diet once January arrives. This mindset creates a sense of deprivation, perpetuating a cycle of guilt-laden consumption followed by strict control.
How to break the cycle
Instead, consider the idea of granting yourself unconditional permission to enjoy these foods at any time of the year. Would these particular foods hold the same power over you during Christmas if you were free from the constraints of guilt and restriction? Clients often express fear that allowing themselves permission will lead to uncontrollable eating, however moving towards this mindset shift can make a significant difference to your eating behaviour going forward.
Though there are other areas to be addressed to help with this transition, giving yourself this permission helps to remove the power of the foods in question. It shifts the narrative to having these foods when you chose and not the other way around.
Develop Awareness
Now is a good time to begin to observe your thoughts around the holiday season, and how food, weight and dieting discussions manifest in your interactions with others—be it family, friends, or your children. At the same time, be aware of the media messages at this time of year. Developing this awareness without self-judgment is critical and will help you to foster a healthier relationship with food and yourself.
I acknowledge the anxiety you may experience when faced with discussions around food, weight, and dieting. Additionally, I recognise that spending time with family or reconnecting with people you haven't seen in a while may present challenges for you. So do look out for part 2 next week where I will be addressing how to navigate diet-related conversations during festive gatherings.
Ready to embark on a journey of self-discovery and making peace with food? Start by downloading my FREE guide, 'Breaking the Cycle - Your First Steps to Healing Your Relationship with Food.''