How to lose weight during the holidays

For years, I found myself stuck in the same frustrating pattern. I’d lose weight through the cooler months, feel great, and then—just as summer approached—everything would unravel.

October would roll around and the invitations would flood in: cocktail parties, girls’ dinners, work Christmas events, the races, the tennis. One by one, these occasions chipped away at my progress. Surrounded by champagne and canapés, I found myself unable to resist. Slowly but surely, the weight crept back on. I’d end the night bloated, uncomfortable, and disappointed in myself.

Then came the baggy linen dresses.
The chocolate-coated almonds.
The quiet frustration of hiding away when I wanted to feel confident.

I was stuck between two versions of me:

• The one who wanted to feel amazing at these events

• And the one who didn’t want to miss out, be judged, or be “that girl” turning down champagne.

I didn’t want what I ate to become a thing.
I just wanted to enjoy myself and focus on the people, not the food.

The 3 Things That Changed Everything

As I worked through this challenge, I realised something powerful: the way I thought about food in social settings was shaping my whole experience. Here’s what I learned:

1. No One Is Actually Watching What You Eat

One of my clients shared a breakthrough with me. She realised that she had been overeating at social events purely because she didn’t want to seem “weird.” She feared someone would notice if she wasn’t eating like everyone else.

So we tried an experiment: she stopped overeating and simply watched.
And guess what?
No one noticed.
No one commented. No one questioned her. The fear had lived entirely in her mind.

That was the first big shift. What had felt so real for so many years was actually just a story her brain had been telling her.

2. Connection Doesn’t Come from Food—It Comes from Presence

We often think food and drink are what help us relax and connect with others. But what we’re really craving is mental freedom—freedom from the inner chatter about what we can or can’t eat.

So yes, eating whatever you want might feel like it helps you stay present. But true connection doesn’t come from what’s on your plate—it comes from how present you allow yourself to be.

And when you stop fixating on food, you start focusing on people. That’s when real connection happens.

3. Your Brain Wants You to Stay Unconscious

In social situations, your brain will often push you to eat and drink everything in sight. Why? Because that’s what it knows. That’s what feels safe and familiar.

It will offer you all kinds of excuses:

• “It’s a special occasion”

• “Everyone else is doing it”

• “You’ve been good all week”

But all of these thoughts are just your brain’s way of pulling you back into the familiar—and resisting change.

What I Do Now to Stay in Control and Still Enjoy Myself

Tell Myself the Whole Truth

Yes, eating another canapé or drinking that second glass of champagne can feel great in the moment. It gives you that dopamine hit. It quiets the inner dialogue. You feel present—temporarily.

But that’s not the whole story.

What comes next? The shame. The disappointment. The bloating and brain fog the next morning.

If you want to stop overeating in the moment, you need to zoom out. Don’t just focus on the short-term pleasure—look at the total result your actions are creating. That clarity alone can change your choices.

Plan Ahead

Your brain resists change. But you can make change feel safer by offering it certainty.

That’s where planning comes in.

Before an event, I take a few minutes to plan:

• What will I eat and drink?

• How will I respond when the platter comes around?

• How do I want to feel at the end of the night?

Visualising these moments ahead of time helps me follow through with calm confidence. It also builds self-trust. The more I show up for myself, the more natural it becomes—and eventually, the less resistance my brain offers.

That’s when real freedom begins.

Over time, you realise: it was never the food that created connection.
It was the internal conflict around food that created disconnection.

Letting go of that struggle not only changes your body—it changes your experience of life.

If you would like a copy of my Upcoming Event Worksheet to support you for your next event, click here to send an email and I will email you a copy.