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.
What I really find amusing/confusing are the NEW! LOSE WEIGHT headlines paired with extravagent homemade desserts, photographed with every delicious detail.
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.
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”.
I illustrated it with a summer picnic, but it really works for any holiday.
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.
The Strong Mommies Blog did a reprint of this post.
Leave them a comment too!
Thank you, Elizabeth, for a humorous yet constructive approach to handling all the holiday hype. Your 4 word holiday survival plan is true and so useful for anyone who second guesses themselves during a time of enjoying traditional holiday fun foods. I promote self acceptance on my Plus Figured blog (http://www.plusfigured.com) and you are right to say 'practice moderation, but not denial'. But, most of all…I agree with your indication that we must forgive ourselves if we make choices that are less than perfect. And by the way, the Lady Land magazine cover hits the nail on the head with irony at it's finest.
Love the Magazine cover! hee hee And good advice, too.
I really really like your holiday survival plan. I'm going to copy it for myself.
i know what you're talking about! i recently checked out a book at the library with pictures of women's beauty ads from the 40's-60's, fully prepared to laugh at how ridiculous they all were, only to realize that nothing much has changed! (except the photography) kinda sad. we still only seem to care about shiny hair, losing weight, and looking younger (even if you're only in your twenties to begin with!)
Those are 4 really good sentences to live by. Now if only I could remember to do the same, my diet might go somewhere!
Amazing work, I love looking at the mags in checkout to! Most of them are so ridiculous! Your take on it is refreshing!
Hey, I think I have this magazine on the shelf! keep up the good work.
What a beautiful website you have here! I love your holiday motto– AMEN!!! Let's see if I can remember that mid-Christmas dinner… and the day after, when I'm feeling guilty
~Elizabeth
http://confessionsfromaworkingmom.blogspot.com
What fun, Elizabeth. Would love to see that magazine cover in the grocery lines!
[...] Suit Season” & “How to Survive the Holidays!” from Elizabeth Patch’s More to Love [...]
[...] Suit Season” & “How to Survive the Holidays!” from Elizabeth Patch’s More to Love [...]
I had so much fun with the holiday issue, I made a
summer panic issue!
[...] Here are six ways to bring laughter into your life. Also, here’s a laugh-out-loud post from Elizabeth Patch on surviving the [...]
[...] Don’t take magazines so seriously. [...]