10 Ways to Feel Good About Holiday Eating AND Your Body

Stand Tall & Own It

The “holiday” food onslaught begins on October 31, and doesn’t relent until Easter. There really isn’t any way to avoid it.
In this third installment of the “how to deal with holiday stress” mini-series, we dig into the whole food dilemma, and how it affects, or is related to, body image.
There’s no way around the fact that food is a huge part of most of the holidays, and I wish I had a magic solution to loving yourself through this season of sugar and sauces… but the reality is that it’s most important to understand the beauty of your own body, and how you can care for yourself. That’s the secret to making through the “food half” of the year.
Below are the 10 action steps I mentioned in the episode that will empower and encourage you this holiday season.
10 Ways to Feel Good…:

1. Reframe your holiday expectations:
a. Go back (if you haven’t yet) to the last two episodes, and look at what your expectations are, and what kind of family stress (or conditioning) you might be dealing with.
b. What are the holidays for? You get to decide.
c. Why are you eating? You get to decide.
d. What am I supposed to look like? What do I make that mean?
e. Where could I spend my energy instead?
2. Build a body gratitude list: how long has she been around? Is she strong? What is unique about her? How has she protected you?
3. If you want something special, purchase it or make it yourself. (Chocolate Orange)
4. Allow yourself some treats - no one does well with super strict lines… we cross them.
5. Decide what you want to eat (or not) and communicate it when you have the opportunity to influence the menu (like acorn squash).
6. Look for OTHER ways to enjoy the season - like the leaves this weekend, light tours, hiking, holiday markets.
7. Get you some clothes that do fit - and flatter your body as it is TODAY.
8. Get rid of the clothes that will never fit - I plan on participating in a holiday clothes swap meet. I’ve never done it before, but I have some lovely things with tags on them… time to find something new.
9. Volunteer - food pantry, holiday meal soup kitchen - get out of your own head
10. Healthy Boundaries Make Happy Holidays Masterclass https://www.theintentionaloptimist.com/healthyboundaries Make THIS holiday season happy with different expectations, AND joyful anticipation! Healthy boundaries based on your core values allows for conscientious and respectful boundary setting for a holiday season YOU decide you want to experience.
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