Thanksgiving Tips for Having Peace with Food

1. It’s no different than any other day. Treat it this way and you’ll be okay

2. Working off or earning your food should never be a thing.

Plus studies have shown that your hunger levels increase with longer cardio sessions so why not use that time to spend with loved ones?

Earning your food perpetuates the belief that food is only meant to be eaten when “worked for” but we need food regardless of movement just to function. This creates a worse relationship with food

3. If you are feeling anxious about it evaluate why. Where is the anxiety coming from and what feels threatened?

This is where you need to focus your attention on relieving

4. One of my friends and fellow competitor Hana DeVore said it best, if you’re struggling with how to eat on one day, you need much more help than any infographic or even a video like this can give you.

You need to focus on developing a healthy relationship with food from the depths of where it begins, not just surface level solutions for “controlling” yourself on a day that we have been conditioned to believe is about feasting when it’s meant to be about gratitude

5. Stressing about what you’re eating is going to make your body struggle to use and digest it. So bring confidence to your decisions backed with strong core beliefs

6. You’re not a bad person for saying no but if you’re saying no make sure it’s coming from a positive self loving place and be prepared to lovingly accept questions from people who otherwise normally would expect you to eat

7. You’re not a bad person for saying yes. You’re no less fit, healthy, competitive, or influential for participating in a meal because simply put, it’s food and you’re going to eat anyways. No moral attachment belongs on your plate

8. Best thing you can do is be mindful. Not in the frilly way but genuinely consider how your body feels, where your head is at, and what’s driving your decision making.

Connect to your goals, your values, your standards, and your body. Listen, honor, and love them all

9. Make no justifications for your choices

10. All of this applies tomorrow too. Like I said, it’s no different.

The problem is the conditioning to be concerned about celebrating a holiday in fear of gaining fat, reversing all your progress, losing your next show, being a failure, blackout binging, never ending guilt, and desires to ghost your coach for weeks until you “work it off”.

Change your perspective.

Holidays are a time of high spirits and fun, I know how much it sucks to be consumed with neverending thoughts about the food and only being half present with the people who matter because I’ve been too consumed in consuming.

It sucks.

But it doesn’t have to be your reality forever or at all. Be proactive.

If you experience the distraction of disordered thought patterns...reach out for help. There’s no shame in it and you’ll be glad you did!

I can’t imagine having lived my life with the troubles I was experiencing forever.

I couldn’t imagine being that way at every holiday or for my future kids or every celebration or literally every day and every week being so obsessed with how to eat in an effort to achieve a look or body.

Now I am happy and still crushing my goals. Funny what we gain when we let go of control and choose love for ourselves above all else.

If you’d like to apply for my food relationship healing and discovery journal program then DM me or apply using the link in the comments below!

Happy thanksgiving!!! 😊🥳❤️

I am so grateful for you and for these platforms where we can all connect and learn from each other!

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