How to Survive the Holidays

I’m a big fan of browsing celebrity magazines while waiting in line at the supermarket.
The latest star-studded scandal, finding out who has cellulite (ha! who doesn’t?), who broke up with who, etc. Sometimes I’ll pick a long line just to have more time with this fascinating form of literature…

I also like flipping through women’s magazines, even though they always seem to have the same formula: Cheap Fashion, Latest Hairstyles, Save Money, Get Energy, Fast Meals, Start Your Own Home Business.

The “Holiday Survival Issue” usually features both handy calorie tips (Champagne: 91, Seltzer: zero!) and full-spread menus of traditional and new holiday favorites, with every delicious sauce, gravy, stuffing and topping imaginable. But what I really find amusing/confusing are the NEW! LOSE WEIGHT headlines paired with extravagant homemade desserts, photographed with every delicious detail.
Such mixed messages!

Even if you usually choose foods that optimize your health and well-being,
and have managed to learn to “eat when hungry, stop when full”,
it really is a challenge to remain balanced when your co-workers start bringing holiday goodies to work and when bowls of candy and home-baked cookies start appearing everywhere you look!

On top of all of the added family and financial pressures that the “Big Holidays” bring,
it’s almost impossible to enjoy the festivities if the entire season becomes
a battle of good food vs. sinful food,
a struggle between total willpower vs. total failure,
a competition between looking slim in a holiday dress and baking 1001 different cookies to give as gifts…
No wonder they call it holiday survival!

Here is my 4 sentence “HOLIDAY SURVIVAL PLAN”.

The More to Love Diet Plan

I make healthy choices whenever I can,
but forgive myself when I don’t.

I eat when I’m hungry, not when I’m stressed,
but forgive myself if I do.

I practice moderation, not denial.

I feed myself with love.
© Elizabeth Patch, all rights reserved
from “More to Love”, written & illustrated by Elizabeth Patch

Special foods are an essential part of the memories & traditions of the holidays.

Enjoy them with this 4 word holiday survival plan:
Choices. Forgiveness. Moderation. Love.

Elizabeth Patch is the author and illustrator of “More to Love”, a book of adorable illustrations & upbeat messages that put a happy face on the serious issues of body image and self-esteem.

The link to my Amazon.com page is
http://www.amazon.com/More-Love-Elizabeth-Patch/dp/1439202613/
You may include this, if you wish to help me with my charity (optional)

100% of sales of More to Love during the month of December will be donated to food banks.

Illustration © 2009 Elizabeth Patch, all rights reserved.
Reprinted by permission of Elizabeth Patch.