Why It’s Harder To Stop Overeating In January

I am not a big lover of the month of January, and the older I get, the less enamored I am of the dark gray wintry days. I practically hold my breath until signs of spring return. But as somebody who helps women stop torturing themselves around food and weight and ways to stop out-of-control binge eating, I also have some issues with January. I’ve felt this rant coming and feel I must now share it with you, hope it helps.

 

#1. Enough with the New Year’s resolutions already… seriously. The first day of the year is not a good enough reason to feel that kind of pressure. Real change comes in more organic and personal ways. I have not seen anyone set a resolution for the first of the year that stuck to it. Time to give it up and wait until you are truly inspired by something inside of you that has real meaning. Make change when you are ready to move towards something that feels better. Resolutions set you up for a predictable crash. Resist the pressure, it’s not worth it and it won’t work.

 

#2. January is a terrible time of year (if you live in the Northern Hemisphere) to attempt major weight loss. It’s freezing. Our biology is set to conserve, and to crave starchy heavy foods for warmth. For hibernation and dormancy. Going “raw” or “vegan” or pushing yourself to become extremely active just isn’t natural right now, in spite of how hip it may seem. Even if these trends are ultimately a good match for you, the coldest months of the year are probably not the ideal time for beginners to embark on these protocols.

 

#3. Just because it’s January and the beginning of a new year doesn’t meant it’s the season to detoxify or cleanse.. it’s not. We make too much of the beginning of a new year and use external factors to try to force ourselves into behaviors that we just may not be ready for. It’s unlikely that you are craving all liquids or all fruits and vegetables right now.. it’s not the season. Wait a few months, you’ll be more likely to succeed.

 

#4. Even if you feel like you overate during the holidays, and most people do to varying degrees, using January to essentially punish yourself only prolongs the agony and the cycle of binges and the following deprivation. What if you just tried to come back to center? Instead of trying to force some extreme regimen down your throat, what if you just attempted to feed yourself…beautifully? And tried to soothe the anxiety and the body hate that you feel? Wouldn’t that get you a lot more mileage? Trust me, the answer is yes.

 

#5. Every other commercial on television is for a weight loss program. This alone drives me crazy. If you weren’t already feeling terrible about your body, or what you ate, or craving a little more food during the winter or whatever… being incessantly bombarded by the divas of weight loss oughta do it. It amazes me how many billions of dollars that industry continues to amass. We’re such a confused society between these commercials and the ones for fast food, you really could go crazy. Do not pick up that phone.

 

Well, January is halfway gone and nobody is happier than I am. And I am always happy when you feel better, in ways that honor and uplift you. And what I have always known is that everything has it’s season and if we are patient and attuned to our own cycles and those around us, we will know when to take the next right action. So try to step back from the hype and the pressure around “fixing” your body right now. It’s probably not time for anything extreme. Which is not to say that there’s nothing you can do to feel better about living in your body. Most of that’s an inside job. And there are lots of ways to begin to shift the way you feel and the actions you take.

 

And of course I would love to help. And I also have some brand new offerings for you, from a one-time collaboration FireWalk Session to a more comprehensive program, Creating Freedom.  Stay warm and stay true to what’s right for you.

 

With Love From My Heart To Yours..