26/12/2022
It is tempting to do these 5 behaviours after Christmas dinner to try 'compensate' for it and feel less guilty for overindulging. However doing these can get you stuck in a cycle of bingeing.
Instead of these 5 behaviours consider the following alternatives:
-Instead of skipping a meal, plan what you will eat at the very next meal time and make it nourishing and satisfying
-Instead of planning your next diet which will only make you feel more deprived and keep you stuck in a binge cycle, focus and reflect on what you are going to include to promote recovery
-There is no need to weigh yourself as you don't eat like you do on Christmas day every day of the year so your weight will naturally get back to normal after a few days without needing to worry about it
-Instead of obsessively exercising, reflect on whether the exercise you are doing is healthy and enjoyable. Exercise should never be used to give yourself permission to indulge or to compensate for it.
-Instead of self harming/self loathing try to embrace some self compassion and reflect on how normal it is to enjoy the holiday season with friends, family and festive food and it's ok to overindulge sometimes.
This time of year is so challenging for anyone with an eating disorder and you don’t need to suffer alone. Reach out for support to family, friends, helplines such as Beat UK or your therapist or dietitian to help you work through your fears and feel more able to navigate the food. Also, know that one day you can reach a point in your recovery when Christmas (and other holidays) wont bother you anymore
