Christmas & diets | the season of sparkle, joy — and slightly questionable eating habits

Tis the season of sparkle, joy, and foods that whisper your name from across the room. Dieting at Christmas isn’t just hard — it’s practically an extreme sport.

Christmas food can be very tempting

Have you ever noticed that whenever something wonderful happens, we celebrate with food? And not the celery-stick sort of food. No, no — we bring out the mince pies, the gingerbread, the rich festive roasts, and that suspiciously large tub of chocolates that somehow empties itself. And when something not so wonderful happens? Well, out comes the comforting hot chocolate, brandy-laced puddings, and “just one more” slice of stollen. ’Tis the season, after all.

And have you also noticed that when someone brings a box of Christmas chocolates into the office, you're perfectly able to say, “No thanks, I’m being good”? But the moment everyone else starts rustling wrappers like festive squirrels, suddenly you fear you may never taste chocolate again if you don't join in. It’s practically a survival instinct.

Then there’s the guilt — the classic holiday companion no one asked for. You enjoy one mince pie… then another… and then your brain chimes in with, “Well, the diet’s ruined now, may as well go for the hat-trick.” Why do festive diets make us feel as though we’re missing out, rather than investing in our wellbeing? Why does eating sensibly feel like a punishment while eating a whole yule log feels like destiny?

And keeping busy doesn’t save us this time of year

Trying to distract yourself only goes so far. If you’re busy, you snack. If you relax, you snack. If you turn on the TV — well, that’s a whole new danger zone. Every Christmas commercial is dripping in temptation: luxury feasts, sparkling drinks, chocolate boxes the size of small luggage. Suddenly you're “peckish.” Switch channels and — of course — it’s a festive cooking show. Another dish that you simply must try. Now you're hungry again.

And the real challenge? You can’t avoid food. It’s Christmas! It’s everywhere — on tables, in hampers, in gift bags, on the neighbour’s doorstep, even hiding in your coat pocket because Aunt Susan forced you to take an extra slice of cake home.

But here’s a thought: are you actually hungry? Or thirsty? We feel hunger before thirst — and by the time you feel thirsty, dehydration is already creeping in like a quiet little elf. And if you were truly hungry, you’d probably be willing to eat something you don’t even like. But during Christmas, the sugary, gooey, gloriously calorific treats sing to us like carolers at the door: “Eat me! You know you want to!”

Dieting is hard — especially at Christmas — but hypnosis can genuinely help.

I'm not pretending to be a dietician, but I can share a few tips that have helped others navigate the season without completely surrendering to the Christmas buffet.

Try freezing a bar of dark chocolate and slowly sucking on a single square when you want something sweet. Slice an apple and add a drizzle — and I do mean drizzle — of melted chocolate instead of devouring that entire chocolate Santa. Drink a glass of water before meals and sip a little each hour.

Stick a note on your fridge saying, “Eating is a choice.” It sounds simple, but reminding yourself that you choose what you eat helps return the power to you. When you stand at the fridge door, ask yourself:“Why am I reaching for food? Am I bored? Stressed? Looking for comfort? Or actually hungry?”Your mindset is half the battle — especially during a holiday centred on feasting.

So how can hypnotherapy help you this season?

Hypnotherapists can support you with:

• Motivation, so you stay focused even when the Quality Street tin calls your name

• Cravings, helping you turn down the volume on those irresistible festive urges

• Aversion therapy, useful for tackling one particularly troublesome food

• Parts therapy, helping you understand the emotional reasons behind eating

• Hypnotic gastric band sessions, which many find remarkably effective

• Reducing stress, lowering cortisol and cutting out stress-related snacking

When you understand your triggers — emotional, environmental, or seasonal — you can use hypnotherapy tools like future pacing to prepare for challenging situations. Christmas doesn’t have to be an ongoing battle between you and a plate of pigs in blankets.

It isn’t doom and gloom. In fact, the right mindset makes all the difference. Plenty of people have seen remarkable results with hypnotic techniques, as widely reported in magazines and newspapers. The mind and body are deeply connected. Support one, and the other follows.

This Christmas, take back the reins

When you identify your triggers, understand your emotions, and equip yourself with the right mental tools, you give yourself the gift of control — sweet, liberating control. Imagine walking into a room full of festive treats and choosing what you eat calmly and confidently, without guilt or shame.

What do you have to lose… other than the weight?