5 Easy Ways To Avoid Holiday Food Pressure

Happy Holidays  from your St. Pete Anti Aging Expert !

First, real quick, if you missed it  you can check out  my full post Why It’s So Hard To Stay In Shape From Thanksgiving To New Years & What To Do About It Pt 1 , where I cover 5 more of the most common challenges our members have faced over the past 2 decades regarding  Social Pressure
and  Environment (Food Temptation Everywhere).

So, anyway, raise your hand if you’ve ever had a family member or friend make a big deal out of  what you eat (or won’t eat)  or your  wellness lifestyle changes!

(I’m 100% Italian from a Northern Italian Family so you know I’m raising mine.) I even had an in law constantly utter the phrase oh, I bet you “can’t eat that” almost every time we sat down to eat, LOL.

With Thanksgiving past us and Christmas and New Years  coming up, we will be spending more time with family and friends.  And, while we absolutely love them, sometimes they have strong opinions about what we eat, what what do, and  basically everything going on in our lives!

It can be challenging not to fall back into old dynamics that leave you feeling like you did when you sat at the children’s table or caving to peer pressure.

Today, I’m going to give you some actionable tactics to help avoid that stress, enjoy the holidays, AND stay focused on YOUR goals.

Nowadays, “diet” has become a lot like politics/religion. It’s a topic that’s sure to ignite strong debate.

Some people have very strong opinions about what’s “right,” whether it’s vegan, paleo, keto, intermittent fasting, “intuitive eating”, etc.

And,  as luck would (not) have it, those same people also seem to notice when you’ve made changes in what you choose to put in your body … and start making recommendations or throwing in their “two cents.”

They might think they’re being helpful, (or maybe they just want a partner in crime) but sometimes it can come off as pressure you just don’t want or need.

Especially when they’re egging you on to eat something you don’t want (or, maybe you “want it” but you are committed to eating like you love your body and creating healthy food habits. (Throwback to that time I got yelled at for not filling up my plate a third time at Thanksgiving … ugh!)

Here are some ways to avoid the pressure:

1) Have a plan –  If you have an idea that the topic will come up, think about how you’ll handle it ahead of time, so any old reactionary “buttons” don’t get pushed.

Some additional suggestions are below, but the safest (and easiest) route is to respect the boundaries you’ve set … but also respect their feelings.

Remember – it’s always OK to say “no thank you” with gratitude. You might even help them see that moderation is not deprivation!

2) Change the subject –  If Aunt Mabel starts to grill you about what you’re doing differently, just say you’re “eating like you love your body and feel amazing.” And then change the subject to something she’s interested in. “How was your garden this year?”

3) Evade –  If someone is trying to guilt you into eating something you don’t want, tell them, “Thank you.” And then say the meal was delicious and you’re feeling full … and maybe you’ll have a slice of that pie later.

4) Don’t bring it up –  If food/diet is a sensitive topic, just don’t mention it. Be proactive and keep the conversation flowing about other topics.

5) Talk about politics. JUST KIDDING! Don’t do this!

Many times our loved ones – especially older family members who grew up in a different generation – view food as a way of expressing love.

Their words can feel like pressure, but when you understand their good intentions behind them, it can help put things into perspective.
Basically, the bottom line is to be prepared, have your “go-to” responses ready, and guide the conversation to areas where everyone (including you!) will feel comfortable.

Want More Tips  Like These PLUS 30 Member Favorite Holiday Recipes That Won’t Keep You From Your Fitness Goals PLUS 14 Pages Packed With All Of The Secrets, Tips And Strategies That Have Helped Our Clients Enjoy The Holidays Without Weight Gain?

This Is Your Ultimate Holiday Survival Kit. Best Of All, It’s Completely FREE Just For Being Part Of The FSP I TVF Family !

Just CLICK HERE To Download Yours Now.

Committed To Your Success & Awesomeness,
Dianne Villano, THE Fitness & Transformation Expert For Your Over 50 Body

P.S. Hearing from our readers is one of the best parts of my day. Drop a comment if you have any questions or just to let me know what you think about this or let me know a topic you want me to write about!