The holiday season is here, filled with festive songs, delicious treats, and cherished moments with loved ones. We’ve donned our favorite holiday attire and savored cozy nights watching movies. Yet, just as we start to unwind and embrace the festivities, toxic diet culture creeps in.
Have you noticed how the self-proclaimed health gurus emerge around this time? It seems that as soon as November hits, they bombard us with messages that make us question our worth. They push their products—be it shakes, pills, wraps, or any so-called “miracle solution”—that promise transformation. And with the New Year approaching, the pressure mounts for resolutions. But why should we feel compelled to change just because the calendar flips?
If a product’s main selling point is to make us feel inadequate, it’s certainly not something I want to engage with. Many of these so-called miracles are not only ineffective but also unhealthy, yet we are constantly bombarded with messages suggesting we need them to become our best selves.
This pressure is not limited to the multi-level marketing crowd; diet culture is pervasive during the holidays. Everywhere you look, there are advertisements insisting that we need to change. How often have we heard the phrase, “New year, new you!”? What is wrong with the version of ourselves we are today? Absolutely nothing. Yet, diet culture encourages us to pick apart our bodies, searching for flaws.
Tune into television during the holiday season, and you will undoubtedly encounter commercials urging you to try something that will improve your appearance—be it a diet, a shake, or even a body-slimming garment. These advertisements are engineered to instill feelings of inadequacy, convincing us that we must change.
Can we truly embrace body positivity when everything around us seems to promote negativity? It’s a challenge. The pressure to make New Year’s resolutions can feel like a cloud looming overhead. For years, I’ve experienced December as the countdown to a transformation on January 1st, often signing up for gyms or weight-loss programs in anticipation.
Society often suggests that we shouldn’t love ourselves as we are, making us feel guilty for enjoying food during the holidays or for celebrating a fuller figure. We are not the problem; the real issue lies with a culture that insists everyone fit into a narrow definition of beauty.
Every person is unique, and there is immense beauty in that diversity. Body type is just as important as skin color in celebrating this diversity. You don’t have to fit a certain size to feel confident. You deserve to appreciate your body at any size! No one should ever make you feel unworthy of love or happiness due to your appearance.
Perfect doesn’t exist.
During this season, the weight-loss industry will undoubtedly challenge your self-acceptance, trying to persuade you that change is necessary. I’m not suggesting that self-improvement isn’t valid; if there are health-related changes you want to make under the guidance of a healthcare professional, that’s different. However, don’t let the pressure from influencers or marketers dictate your self-worth.
Enjoy every delightful aspect of the holiday season. Wear that festive outfit with pride. Treat yourself to your favorite holiday cookies. Remember, you are deserving, and December doesn’t have to be a countdown to a reinvention.
If you choose to make changes, that’s your choice, but don’t feel pressured to conform to someone else’s ideal. You will still be just as incredible and beautiful when the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Day!
For those interested in further reading, this article discusses the importance of self-love during the holiday season. You can also explore other insightful posts, including one on home insemination and the implications of intrauterine insemination.