‘Tis the season of excess and, for many years, I would fall head-first into trays of canapés, tubs of chocolates and large bowls of steaming hot Christmas pudding and custard. It's the time of year when food is everywhere and it's as though we've been given license to loosen our belts and enjoy as much as possible. Which is fine, of course, unless you struggle with over-eating, binge-eating, weight management or just lose yourself in all the tantalising delights of festive far and find yourself feeling low, sluggish and regretful come January.

I've come out of plenty of festive seasons many pounds heavier, feeling rubbish and ashamed that I couldn't just, well, stop. And yet, after completely recalibrating my relationship with food, I now enjoy it more than I ever did before. I know what I like, I know my indulgences and I also know what makes me feel good and what keeps me on track with my health and fitness goals.

So, in this episode, I share how I’m approaching the festive season now that I’m someone who genuinely loves food, but no longer lets it control me. I talk about:

• why December used to be such a triggering month for me
• the cultural pressure to 'just have one more'
• choosing my indulgences instead of eating everything in sight
• why I eat before events (and how it stops that canapé chaos moment)
• dealing with food pushers at parties and family gatherings
• how alcohol fits into all of this
• navigating the season with pleasure and boundaries
• how I avoid that January shame spiral

This isn’t about being good or restricting, it’s about staying connected to yourself in a season designed to pull you away from your own instincts.

Substack: The Emma Guns Show

Instagram: @emmaguns

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