Binging and Holidays

Binge eating is common during the holiday season

The end of the year is a time of reuniting with family and friends and, along with those sometimes fulfilling, sometimes stressful visits, comes the overindulgence of food. People in North American culture are supposed to stay thin and nonchalant about holiday meals, but we obsess about them instead.

Mealtimes become a time of fighting within ourselves of trying to enjoy the abundance of good cooking and the shame of eating “too much.” Our inner dialogue pushes out the holiday spirit and focuses on the guilt we feel for not being able to control ourselves.

Binge eating is a common occurrence at this time. With so much food and choice, high stress levels and a pressure to make the time off something special, we focus on the food and our weight gain to help numb the anxiety.

By reaching for another handful of goodies rather than talking to our detestable mother in law (or other person!), we give up our sense of power to the feeling of blame.

Why not be present in every moment this Christmastime and ask ourselves why we are reaching for that bag of chips or holiday candy when we have just finished a hearty meal? Why not share our discomforts and stress with those around us who can help us to deal with them?

Holiday time doesn’t have to be an occasion for binging and feeling guilty. They are time for connecting with good company and leaving the self-reproach behind.