The new year is right around the corner, and with it comes our culture’s fixation on resolutions. Now, new year’s resolutions aren’t explicitly bad. It is very easy to see the value of setting goals focused on growth and self-actualization. However, it usually doesn’t happen like that. Instead, the overwhelming messaging behind resolutions is the pressure to change your body size, shape, eating habits, and lifestyle, emphasizing your value defined by your appearance.

By: Alexandra Carter

This is problematic and harmful for so many reasons. Among many other things, it upholds racial, cultural, and beauty-based bias, falsely prioritizes appearance and size over authentic health, and perpetuates weight stigma. In a nutshell, diet culture-inspired resolutions masquerade as helpful when, in reality, they cause a lot of harm.

Dieting for weight loss doesn’t work, and making resolutions to change your body based on appearance and diet culture will only keep you stuck. But what can you do instead?

Here are ten ways to honor your authentic health during this holiday season and 2023. Moving away from food and body-focused health is incredibly powerful. Let this be the season you choose to heal your relationship with food and your body.

Work On Setting Boundaries

Figure out what you need to feel safe and comfortable, and don’t be afraid to ask for it. Setting boundaries is essential in recovery, so let this be the season you work on improving this skill and advocating for yourself and your needs. It might feel scary, but setting healthy boundaries benefits everyone involved. If you need help, your treatment team is an excellent resource for building this skill.

Find Movement You Genuinely Enjoy

Gone are the days when movement needed to be a pressure or a punishment. Make this season about finding physical activities that makes you feel good before, during, and after! You are not obligated to do anything that feels punitive or extreme. Move from a place of self-care and self-respect. And, if movement isn’t feeling good, maybe it’s time to take a break. You are also entitled to rest.

Explore What Foods You Enjoy

The best part about Intuitive Eating and BALANCE’s All Foods Fit Model is allowing yourself the freedom to discover foods that make you feel nourished and satisfied. Allow yourself to explore enjoying food this season with curiosity instead of judgment.

Connect With People Who Light You Up

Make a point to connect with people who help you feel good. Surround yourself with people who you love and who love you back. Food and body struggles can feel isolating. Combat these issues by surrounding yourself with a community that lifts you.

Prioritize Self-Care

In every season of life, there are challenges. Create a toolbox for yourself of self-care practices to ground and center you through life’s ups and downs. Focus on things that help you destress, even if it’s as simple as cleaning your space or washing your hair.

Curate Your Social Media Feeds

Social media can be tricky, but you are worthy of an online space that empowers and uplifts you. Unfollow accounts that make you feel bad about yourself. You can curate a feed that aligns with you and your recovery.

Try New Things

Explore new hobbies that don’t relate to food and your body. Find something creative and enjoyable that will remind you how dynamic you are, beyond your food and body struggles. Some ideas are embroidery, painting, playing an instrument, collaging, and so much more.

Better Your Sleep Practice

Sleep is a powerful tool for your well-being! Working on your sleep consistency and quality will have so much payoff in other aspects of your life. This could be limiting screen time, using essential oils, and getting to bed at a regular time.

Practice Positive Self-Talk

The way you talk to yourself is significant. Instead of feeling shame and self-judgment, try reframing your thoughts about yourself and your body. Interrupt your negative thoughts with respect and compassion. You don’t have to love yourself or your body, but a least treat yourself with the same kindness you would treat a loved one. This is another helpful thing to work on with your treatment team. Get support to help change your thinking patterns.

Get Support

Above all, you are worthy of treatment. Sometimes the best thing you can do for yourself is to get help. You deserve to thrive this season and beyond. Give yourself the support you need to achieve that.

Dieting doesn’t work, and making resolutions to change your body based on appearance and diet culture can never help you live your life to the fullest. This holiday season, move away from food and body-focused health and turn toward whole-person, authentic health practices. Let this be the season you choose to heal your relationship with food and your body.

While the holidays are supposed to be a time of togetherness, tradition, and merriment, it can feel stressful and isolating for those with an eating disorder. Let BALANCE help you navigate the holidays and set the stage for lasting recovery. Our 12-day winter intensive program can help you jump-start your recovery. Our exclusive winter eating disorder treatment program fits conveniently within your winter break schedule, allowing you to invest in transformative care. Connect with our admissions team and learn more about our 12-day winter intensive program here.

Our admissions team would be happy to answer any questions you may have about our programs and services. Book a free consultation call with our admissions team below, or read more about our philosophy here.

This post was written by Intuitive Eating | HAES Content Creator, Alexandra Carter (she/her).

Alexandra Carter is a professional actor, turned certified Intuitive Eating Counselor and Health and Wellbeing Coach, turned Content Creator. After moving to NYC for her undergraduate degree in Musical Theater, Alexandra spent 10 years working all over the world as an actor/singer/dancer. Through her own healing journey, Alexandra found her way to the anti-diet space and went on to gain coaching and counseling certifications, in addition to starting her own coaching business. It was there she fell in love with content creation as a way of sharing ideas, genuinely connecting with people, and affecting powerful change. Alexandra is thrilled to be on the team at BALANCE, combining all her skills and passions to foster authentic healing.

References

Alissa Rumsey. (2022, January 5). 9 Non-Diet New Year's resolutions: Intuitive eating dietitian. Alissa Rumsey. Retrieved December 2, 2022, from https://alissarumsey.com/non-diet-new-year/

Emma Willingham, M. S. (2021, December 21). 12 healthy New Year's resolutions that do not involve dieting. Houston Chronicle. Retrieved December 2, 2022, from https://www.houstonchronicle.com/lifestyle/renew-houston/nutrition/article/12-healthy-New-Year-s-Resolutions-that-do-not-16716792.php

Dennett, C. (2018, December 27). Perspective | five reasons not to diet in the New Year, and what to do instead. The Washington Post. Retrieved December 2, 2022, from https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/wellness/five-reasons-not-to-diet-in-2018-and-what-to-do-instead/2018/01/03/2f23241e-e4cf-11e7-a65d-1ac0fd7f097e_story.html

What to do instead of dieting this New Year. Rose Mattson, RD. (2018, December 27). Retrieved December 2, 2022, from http://rosemattsonrd.com/what-to-do-instead-of-dieting-this-new-year/

Weeks, E., & says, H. T. (2018, January 5). 18 things to do instead of dieting this year. Zen & Spice. Retrieved December 2, 2022, from https://zenandspice.com/18-things-to-do-instead-of-dieting-this-year/

10 Ways to Honor Your Authentic Health This Holiday Season (Instead of Dieting)