No Question. Holiday-Eating is Tough. But, So Sorry Season, We’re Tougher.

Nurse a low cal drink on difficult occasions. Drinks just for us here.

Welcome to our new peeps! The red carpet is rolled out for you. So happy you’re here. As Tim Ferriss said, “people don’t want more information about their problems. They want solutions to their problems.”

Below in pink you’ll find five super important posts. The regular Monday post I send will make a lot more sense after you read these pink titles. And if you haven’t received your Aunt Bea copy just write in the comments below and I’ll shoot it right over.

• Begin Here
• This Metaphor Is My Constant Companion as I Preserve My Weight Loss After Age Fifty
• Brownies for Breakfast
• 6 Pillars of Losing Weight After Age 50
• How to Conquer Your Evening Sugar Cravings

Pearl One

Let’s talk Christmas eating! Isn’t eating so much Christmas fudge and drinking mugs of spiked egg nog what the season is all about? I mean, if we’re not overeating and over drinking can we still call it a holiday? Yes and no. If you take a taste or two of everything on the Big Day, and you’re good to go: okay, but if like me one taste triggers you into a free-for-all, you need a solid game plan.

Believe me, I’m 100% with you that keeping our smart habits in December is challenging, and often feels downright unfair. But in response to the difficulty, I’ve trained myself to think, over and over, “it’s just one day. I can make this work for one day” (and one evening if you count New Year’s Eve).

I think about my grandma being a little girl — 1912 to 1920 — when special food only appeared in her life at Christmastime. Not being of the Rockefeller-persuasion, the special food was too pricey for her to eat on the regular. But in today’s world you and I can whip up a cheesecake with ease or find one already made five miles away at the Cheesecake Factory.

In my experience, having a strong game plan is the only way to roll through the many calories coming soon to a theater near you.

What I Do

So, in building a smart game plan I take a look at what will likely be difficult meals in the days to come and I plan for every obstacle. I never allow myself to stroll into an eating experience without my trusty plan (in my head or hand bag) and here’s why: in the modern age alluring food is everywhere and I know that I will succumb if I don’t create a game plan and stick to it like glue.

I write a game plan that includes taking my cold-tote packed with smart bites with me everywhere (these bites need to be your favorites, this is no time to skimp). For new readers, smart small bites are like broccoli, a hard-boiled egg, red grapes, sliced apple and yogurt cups but, again, you must have what you most love. I also include Eat Before You Eat. (Remember your goal is to ruin your meal!) Sounds harsh but I’m being super honest: if I show up Hungry, I will plow into the mashed potatoes, candied yams, gravy and rolls with a vengeance.

Future-Me

In addition, I journal-write from future me to today-me. For example, I might write a letter from December 26-me to my current self. The letter will detail everything positive she hopes for me on the day of Christmas like getting outside for a good walk, playing board games with the kids or even helping the hostess clean up.

The idea is to stay pleasantly busy so that you don’t eat out of sheer boredom. Build activities into your game plan that are easy and fun. And don’t forget to look for the “magical moments” that quietly arrive.

Okay, write your game plan — what you most want to happen this week — and be ready to wake up with a smile the next morning.❄️

Pearl Two

Journal-Gems

Journal-writing is like a portal to our unconscious, the wisdom flows through our pen or keyboard and splashes onto the page.

While it’s not the last word on overeating, knowing yourself better will always play a pivotal role in how you engage with food.

• What does Christmas mean to you?
• How did Christmas food play a role when you were a child?
• What Christmas food or dishes remind you of a time-past?
• How does the idea of creating an eating game plan strike you?
• What do you think about writing from a future-you?
• Begin the letter from December 26-you or even January 1-you to today-you. ❄️

Pearl Three

Sequencing is taken directly from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). The purpose of sequences is to help us move from reacting to circumstances to responding. I encourage you to do a sequence a day in your journal. Powerful stuff. Apply to your own life.

Initial Sequence

• Situation: Linda wants to drop twenty pounds but the scale won’t budge.
• Initial thought: “I’m watching younger women drop pounds when needed, what is wrong with me?”
• Feeling: Frustrated and angry.
• Action: She diets, then overeats, then it’s back to restrictive eating. Rinse and repeat.
• Results: She keeps three different clothes sizes in her closet because she knows the scale will go up and down. Nothing new.

Chosen Sequence

• Situation: Linda wants to drop twenty pounds but the scale won’t budge.
• Chosen thought: “Losing weight would be fabulous, but I’m working to develop the habits of one, eating smart food and two, eating in a smart portion size.”
• Feeling: Determined, strong.
• Action: Linda develops the habit of eating a light dinner and going to bed early with an awesome book.
• Result: As Linda slowly establishes new habits, she begins to shift how she engages with food. Over time she donates old clothes in different sizes to the thrift store. ❄️

Pearl Four

I’m so happy to bring you a great book recommendation — a book that, at first blush, sounds boring, but absolutely isn’t. The author, Susan Orlean, wrote The Library Book, and she can tell one heck of a nonfiction story.

On April 29, 1986, the Los Angeles Central Library caught fire in what became the largest library blaze in U.S. history. Over seven hours, about 400,000 books were incinerated, and another 700,000 were damaged by smoke and water; more than 1.1 million items lost or damaged in a single night.

To this day, the cause of the fire remains a mystery.

Sounds boring, but is not in the least. Great book dessert! ❄️

Pearl Five

“It is so easy to overestimate the importance of one defining moment and underestimate the value of making small improvements on a daily basis.”❄️

James Clear

If you like this post, I’d love if you’d share it with others. I can buy ad space, but word-of-mouth is always the gold standard. And thank you.

Merry Christmas and have a beautiful week!

♥, Wendy

You know the scoop: I’m an Amazon affiliate. If you buy from a link in my post, I’ll receive money, but the arrangement won’t cost you a dime.

Are you new to the Inspired Eater? Welcome!! This blog won’t make much sense until you first read the Aunt Bea post (and you’ll find Aunt Bea on this page to the right under my short bio). On your cell you’ll see it immediately following the first post. After you enter your email address, the Aunt Bea article will be sent to your email’s inbox. If it’s not there, you might check the spam folder. And given that computers can be so difficult, always feel free to ask in the comments below for Aunt Bea and I’ll get her right to you!

I am not an expert, doctor, surgeon, nurse, dietician, or nutritionist: the information within TheInspiredEater.com is based solely on my personal experience and is not intended to be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.