4

THE LAST 10™ POUNDS PODCAST

EP. 34- This holiday season: lose weight vs gain weight- HOW TO.

 

EP. 34- This holiday season: lose weight vs gain weight- HOW TO.


I know that it sounds crazy, but it’s completely possible to lose weight this holiday season. In fact, it’s my favorite time of year to sign new clients.

I had a client who signed up last year the week before Thanksgiving, and she wasn’t sure it was the right time to start the program. I explained that it’s actually the most amazing time because you can show yourself and prove to yourself that you can lose and maintain weight. And if you can lose and maintain weight during the holidays, you can do it any time of year! That’s what is so amazing about it. It is possible to get through the holidays and lose weight instead of gaining weight.

Why are the holidays so tough?

I remember that the holidays were tough. There are all these social events, which I never used to want to go to. To be very honest, I felt fat and disgusting and I didn’t want to go and be social because I felt embarrassed about my weight. I didn’t want to be seen. So I was already feeling awful. I was also feeling anxious about being around family and friends, and what their opinions and thoughts and comments would be about my weight, what I was eating, what I wasn’t eating etc. I just didn’t want to have to worry about that.

So the holidays are tough because there is often social anxiety that happens. Leading up to the event, you’re feeling stressed and anxious. There’s also time and financial stress during the holidays. There is literally just the fact that our calendars feel really busy and there are a lot of extra expenses. So a lot of people feel stressed around the holidays

On top of that, there is food everywhere! A lot of social events in the holidays revolve around food, and a couple of things happen with food.

Not trusting yourself

When you have a history of gaining weight or losing it and not being able to maintain it, you don’t trust yourself around food. So when you go to an event and there’s food everywhere, you feel anxious and worried because your thoughts are saying, ‘Oh my gosh, I’m going to blow it. I don’t trust myself not to eat everything, and then I’ll gain weight.’

When that is what you’re thinking, you are generating the anxiety and nervousness about food yourself. And guess what? That makes you want to eat.

It becomes a pattern for people who struggle with their weight. We feel intense emotions, we want to eat. So the anxiety around food and not trusting yourself creates a desire to eat.

Not being able to say no

Another problem with food at events is that people often actually what you to eat. They’re offering you this and that, they might have put effort into making the food and you have this whole thing about feeling bad about saying no to the food being offered to you.

It can be challenging to say no to things when everyone is offering food and asking why you aren’t having this or that. But one of the biggest gifts that you can give yourself is to learn how to say no.

You can even share your goals with the person offering and you’d be surprised how much people want to support you once they understand your goals. Try it for yourself and see!

Be courageous and be willing to try something different

Remember, in order to create new results, you have to take new actions. Instead of being afraid to say no because you might hurt somebody’s feelings when they made the special holiday food, express your gratitude instead. Tell them how amazing and delicious it looks, thank them for the offer, and then share your goal with them. Really own it and share your goal with pride, and express your gratitude for them for making the food.

Some people will still try to convince you. They’ll say, ‘Oh but it’s the holidays,’ because they really won’t understand your goal.

That’s okay! The only one that needs to understand and get it is you. You are strong and convicted in what you want to create for yourself. Be okay with saying no and understanding that that person’s response is completely up to them. Their response is none of your business, but what is your business is to really make this happen for yourself.

Keep your goal in mind

As long as you understand how important this is for you and you’re really committed to creating it, that’s all that matters. The great thing is that with the strategy I teach of veggies, protein, and healthy fat, there’s almost always something at every event that you can eat that fits that strategy.

If it’s a potluck type situation, you can bring something that fits your strategy and share it with everyone. And if you really don’t think there will be any options for you at the event, eat before you go. Then you can make the event just about enjoying people’s company, not about the food.

Hopefully, these tips will help you be resourceful in getting through the holidays and staying focused on your goal. If you can lose weight and manage all these social eating situations during the holidays, the rest of the year is going to be a breeze!


LEARN MORE ABOUT MY 'LAST 10' COACHING PROGRAM HEREwww.brendalomeli.com/apply