Is Christmas and the holiday season just one big legitimate binge fest?

And if so, then why?

Dec 17, 2023

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two woman standing beside woman sitting in front of table — Photo by Kelsey Chance on Unsplash

I have been thinking about how Diet Culture creates a kind of seasonal Diet-Binge Cycle all of its own. Especially the holiday season, and perhaps even more so that in-between space of the 27^thDec to the 1^st of January. To me it feels like that this time of the year, is a legitimate binge, even for those people who are not “officially” on a diet.

Why do you think that is?

This is what I think

There is a seasonality to dieting. Often in the lead up to Dec people might have been on a diet since September (“undoing the Summer”) and maybe even squeezed in a short “cleanse” to get ready for the office party in early December. If this is you, it is not unreasonable to assume that you and your body might actually be hungry by the time the holiday season comes around. And there is so much food! It will be hard to resist, naturally after a long period of restriction.

So much of socialising at this time of year revolves around food. And alcohol. There are expectations for these gatherings too. To be joyful, merry and for it (and us) look like a pretty Pinterest board. That might be the ideal world. But most of us don’t live in that world, we live in the real world.

Maybe you find yourself eating more, not just because you’ve just finished another diet, and are legitimately hungry, but also because this time of year can be so stressful. Those expectations…

Having to socialise with people you would rather not to spend time with, is stressful. Or maybe this time of year feels isolating and lonely and food can be a reliable company in those situations. Food and eating can be a useful way to cope with heightened emotions and triggering events. Please be gentle with yourself if you find yourself here.

Thinking about January and back to “being good”

There is one other thing that can drive all of this further… It is the looming of January and a “New Year – New Me”, diet / self-improvement project. Even self-improvement project tends to involve a diet of some sort, under the disguise of health. Plus it is almost always about increasing exercise and cutting stuff out. This feast/famine is just the same as the restrict-binge cycle.

Now, I am not saying that it doesn’t feel good to move after days of resting and taking it easy. There often comes a point when the body says it wants to move again. Same with food. If you have eaten a lot of sugary foods for days or even weeks, you might start craving something else, like fruits and vegetables.

And taking a break from drinking alcohol is definitely a health promoting behaviour to get behind.

But this is not usually why we go hell-for-leather in January with any new health regime.

It is because we are told that we need to do something about all that “over-eating” and any weight we might have gained.

Most people stick to their new intentions for a few weeks. Usually because we are trying to change to many things at the same time, and/or because they are not rooted in genuine self-care.

Moving on from one diet to the next

The next seasonal Diet-Binge Cycle starts again at Lent, so that you have time to restrict before you can binge on all the chocolate bunnies at Easter!

After that, it is another diet to get ready for the Summer holidays… And then people binge or what might be called “letting themselves go”. And why wouldn’t you if you have been starving yourself for a few weeks or months? And sure, you’re on holidays after all so why not?!

Only, of course after the Summer, it is time to get back at it again for the Autumn. There is usually one more diet to get in before the end of the year before it is Christmas again. A four to six week intense diet so that you look great at the Christmas parties, and then you know you can eat freely until Christmas is over and done. Because in January you will start on a new diet…!

You know, it doesn’t have to be this way. It is possible to get off this merry go around. It is possible to stop. the. dieting.

What happens when we stop? We gain something; Peace. Freedom. Flexibility and so MUCH more mental space.

I think healing our relationship with food, eating and our bodies is also about healing from Diet Culture. This divestment is radical. It is also a homecoming, to way find peace within yourself.

My wish is that someday, there will be no need for this kind of healing because our relationship with food and our bodies were never disrupted in the first place.

I want to leave you with some more resources to navigate this time of year, and to keep contemplating the question: What would it be like if you did not start another diet in January? Please let me know in the comments (if you are reading in the app or reply to the email)