Holiday Mentality

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(Edited)

It's very interesting how the human mind works during holidays. This may also be due to the culture, but at the end of the day I suppose it all comes down to the individual's decision.

We're celebrating Christmas right now (or the end of it), one of the biggest and most expected holiday of the year. Spending time with family, giving gifts to each other are among the activities we usually do, but one of the things that makes Christmas special is the food. Unfortunately over the years the true meaning of these days got lost and all it stands for is what we do during this period.

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Years ago I used to follow the news in tv and each holiday made the news for all the wrong reasons, without exception. I remember no matter what the holiday was, Christmas or Easter, there were always reports about how many people got intoxicated with alcohol, how many ended up at the emergency room with stomach ache and so on.

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If you run a household and do your own shopping, you must have seen the madness going on in the grocery stores and supermarkets before every holiday. People staying in line at the supermarket, with shopping carts full of alcohol, soft drinks and all the unhealthy food available these days. Reporters are always interviewing people about what they are preparing for the holidays and no matter who they are asking, the list of dishes mentioned is as long as my arm.

My family is not any different. We don't buy food in excess as waste is not an option in my kitchen, but we always have more than it is needed and unfortunately not every traditional dish would qualify as the champion of healthy food. It is as if healthy eating rules don't apply anymore and everything is allowed during holidays.

When we debate on what to have for Christmas or Easter, I'm always arguing that our stomach is the same size as it was before Christmas and our nutritional needs are the same, or even less as during these holidays we don't work or do our usual training. However, that doesn't mean my opinion is taken into consideration and what is worse, most of the times I eat more than I should too. The truth is, if the food is before you, it's hard to control your mind.

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This year something strange happened to me. I've been cooking and baking for two days or so, had a lot of food lined up for the big event and yet have been hungry the whole time, also went to bed hungry every night. It's been like the hunger games. Shocking, isn't it? Having so many goodies available had the exact opposite effect on me. I had to taste what I created, to know where I went wrong, take notes to know where to do better next time, but that was all. There were dishes I barely touched and realized it only when there was almost none left. I think it's safe to say I've been set to survival mode, which is an old habit of mine for tough days. I'm not an emotional eater, stress has the exact opposite effect on me and over the years I've learnt how to handle these periods and survive. My strategy is to drink plenty of water as hydrating the body is important and have some fruits or something light to still have the necessary intake for the day.

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I don't know if there's such term as holiday mentality but the phenomenon exists for sure. Rewarding ourselves with food is a real thing and a slippery slope. The funny thing is that for quite many, the new year starts with weight loss plans.

After years of observing quietly, I still think weight loss is a mentality game. You can have the best diet plan and the best training program if you are not able to control yourself. Eating as mush as it is needed is also a mentality game. Staying focused is the hardest part and that refers to every area of life. Just because there's plenty available, it doesn't mean you have to eat it all. I'm not any better than others, it's still a challenge for me, but I'm trying my best to win.

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What about you? Do you have enough self control to avoid over eating during the holidays, or you tend to make an exception?

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44 comments
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Hello dear friend @erikah good day
I think that something similar happens to most people in relation to food, being calm makes one consume a little more food, but it is true, we always eat much more than we can eat.
It is a pity that the true meaning of Christmas has been lost, although we try to keep the traditions by teaching our grandchildren.
I take this opportunity to wish you a happy start to the week

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Hi @jlufer. Most of the holidays or celebrations have lost their true meaning these days. People have no idea what these celebrations mean, they just know they can eat and party. Thanks for the comment and happy holidays.

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Almenos enmi pais hace algunos años lo que si recuerdo es vernoticias de gente tanto adulta como niños que sufrieron accidentes con fuegos artificiales. Lo bueno es que en los ultimos tiempos este tipo de noticias fue desapareciendo,por unlado creo que es porquela gente fuetomando conciencia y otro factorfue que aca en Argentina la pirotecnia se volvio muy cara asi que hay cada vez menos gente que compra evitando estos accidentes. Te deseo una feliz navidad y un gran año nuevo.

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Selling fireworks in my country has been limited to a week or so and starts before Christmas. However, you're not allowed to use them till New Years Eve. The other option, if you have a festive event, is to hire a company that does fireworks, but that's not cheap. However, even with all these restrictions, there are always accidents. Happy holidays to you too.

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Do you have enough self control to avoid over eating during the holidays, or you tend to make an exception?

Personally, I know how to control myself that I should stop eating if I already feel unwell. I'm currently in my strict diet, but doesn't mean that I'm exempted in cheat day especially every holidays. Every time I feel guilty, I always thought that there's nothing wrong as "You Only Live Once". We only live once, but please don't make it shorter haha.

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Personally, I know how to control myself that I should stop eating if I already feel unwell.

The thing is, one should never eat till feels unwell.

We only live once, but please don't make it shorter haha.

You are right about that. May say it doesn't matter how you look, the most important thing is to be happy. It's just that one can only abuse their body for so long. It comes a time when no doctor or medicine can help you. So I'd say let's take care of our health till it is still possible.

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For me, I can say that I have much self control when it comes to food. I’m literally living on survival mode these days but after watching all these dishes that you have made, I don’t think I could control myself much lol.

Thank you for always sharing you wonderful, mouth watering dishes with us.

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See? Self control is not easy at all 😂

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Do you have enough self control to avoid over eating during the holidays, or you tend to make an exception?

well on my side, I love food but I don't eat to stupor to avoid getting lazy over certain activities.

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Christmas is all about Christ Jesus and accomplished by lots of to eat and drink and sharing of gift items. The dishes you have here are all inviting and mouth watering. Enjoy your holidays ❤️❤️
#Selfimprovement

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ah yes the holiday gains as I'd like to call it 😅 it's sounds inevitable especially if you've got a family reunion going on that means lots of food, but coming from a smaller fam made us adjust our festive meals to fit just us and also avoid excess wastage, kinda also helps not getting the holiday gains 😁 thanks for sharing your article about this, happy holidays! 😃
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!ALIVE

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It's nice if you can keep a balance and not forget that we eat to live and not live to eat 😂 Happy holidays to you too.

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Did you know you can win 10$ hive by competing in our Monday Challenge? Its Every Monday, just go here.☜(゚ヮ゚☜)

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I did not know that, so thanks for letting me know. I had a look at the challenge and it's not for me :) However, good luck!

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Glad to know everyone spends holidays with his family and friends. No festival is complete without good and sweet food. On Event, people in Pakistan do not care about diet at all and eat to their heart's content. All dishes looks so yummy. I want to these yummy dishes. Thanks for sharing your happiness with us.

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Thank you! It is nice indeed, to spend the holiday with family and friends but it's also important to keep some balance as these events are not bout eating.

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I get little things, but that's it. So I don't drink like crazy just for a holiday or a celebration. People like to exaggerate things. My chips and coke are enough for me haha.

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My chips and coke are enough for me haha.

All healthy things!! 😂 @incublus darling, how many holidays or celebrations do you have in Turkey? 🤔

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Oh we don't have much. We have Ramadan, We have Eid El Adha these are religious holidays and we have some national like Republic Day etc. hahaha.

I know they are not healthy but they are not crazy right? Just some chips 😂

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For food, I don’t know if I can see it and stop eating😅. I get enough than I can eat😁

I prefer cooking to buying which is good for me.

But just eat when food come your way😅

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Well, you can do that for awhile, but not endlessly as your body is going to humble you 😃

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Those foods are looking sooo yummy 😋
And I'm a foodie person. I never control myself when it's about food 🤣

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Thank you, I wish I could send you some :)

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I'm your fan actually! I mean seeing regular cooking posts of you I really wished if I were in your country 🥲 you makes me hungry every time ! 😊

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Thank you! 😂 I have to hide as there are many who would knock on my door to have a bite of what I'm cooking/baking.

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During Christmas and other celebrations in my country, I admit that I do not have control over the foods I eat dear erikah, hehe. But I am preparing over-the-counter medicines like loperamide just in case but good thing I had a good stomach during the holiday season. I hope you are well. By the way, all the foods are delicious. Best regards and once again, happy holidays. !LUV

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I'm glad to hear you at least have some medicine just in case.

Thank you for the nice words and the nice wishes. I'm wishing you all the best and happy holidays with the family! I'm thinking of Erika quite often and I she's proud of you. We all are! 🤗 ❤️

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I cannot dare to forget my dearest sister, Erika. I cried a lot, and I had been so emotional these days, thinking that it was the first Christmas that she could not be with us, dear erikah, but still, I celebrated Christmas with a joyous heart. I just poured out my emotions to somehow feel a light in my heart. 2022 may break me into pieces yet I am looking forward to a brighter 2022 with so much faith, hope, and love. Thank you so much sweet sister.

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I know the first Christmas is terrible after losing a loved one but she would not want you to be sad, I know that. The pain will never go away, but it becomes manageable in time. It's ok to cry and be emotional as we are all humans. You'll see, 2023 will be a bit better and I'm glad you're here with us! Take care my dear and enjoy the holidays! 🤗

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It is like dwelling on the pain and learning the art of standing once more after a great fall and blackout. Thank you so much for hearing my sentiments, dear erikah. I love you always and send much love from thousands of miles apart. It always feels so good to have a friend there to comfort you beyond words. Know that I genuinely appreciate your uplifting words. Surely my dear sister loves you so much. The feeling is mutual and take care always. !PIZZA

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The food looks very delicious!

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I see from the food available.it looks so delicious

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