The Holidays and Body Neutrality
For many of us, the holidays are a time to relax, spend time with family and loved ones, and enjoy well-deserved time off.
But it can also be a very anxiety-inducing time too. With the emphasis on food during the holidays, fun can easily be replaced with feelings of anxiety, guilt and even dread. Diet culture is so deeply ingrained in our society that it is almost impossible to get away from the comments when we are all sitting down enjoying a meal together. We all know the comments; ‘’Oh wow you’ve lost so much weight this year!’’ or ‘’Should you really eat all that, sweety?’’. Let’s not even begin about the companies starting to run their advertisements that will say something along the lines of; ‘’This is the year you will stick to a diet’’ or ‘’Start the year lean!’’. We have the power to normalise not talking or commenting on people’s bodies while realising that there is so much more to life than how we look.
Here are some tips to get you through this season if you are experiencing any of this.
You cannot control what other people say,
but you can control your response.
If your Aunt Karen makes any unwanted comments, try to change the conversation. Or if you can, respond to them that the comment they are making is hurtful. You can leave it at that, or if you really want to take it a step further; you can of course explain why it is not an okay comment to make.
Take the focus away from food
Yes, food will be there! But is this really the only thing what the holidays are about? Try to focus on spending time with family and loved ones instead.
Play a game! Make a jigsaw! (my personal favourite!) Go for a nice walk, hopefully in a winter wonderland. There are so many more ways to celebrate the holidays than with just food.
Wear something that makes you feel good
Clothing can have such a big impact on how you feel. Wear that outfit that you feel amazing in!
This is the perfect time to bring it out of the back of your wardrobe and sparkle.
Some simple facts to calm your thoughts:
It is okay to not exercise
Our bodies are not trends
It is okay to enjoy and indulge in food
What you eat today, is not who you are tomorrow
It is okay to set boundaries with family/friends
Bodies aren’t meant to stay the same
It is okay to rest and do nothing
There is no such thing as ‘’bad’’ or ‘’good’’ food
Even if you are not the one that has any of these feelings, keep in mind that someone else at the table might. Changing your wording and topics is such a little thing to do, but it can truly make a difference for the people around you.
So, let’s not talk about calories, let's not talk about other people’s bodies, and let’s not judge them.
Wishing you all an amazing holiday season, filled with lots of love and laughter. I will see you in the new year lovelies!
