Hi Musers! As today is Thanksgiving in the US and Christmas is coming soon I wanted to do a little refresher. I’ll explain why you don’t need to do anything special either in the run-up to the holidays or after to enjoy food. You don’t have to work off calories. You don’t need to starve yourself before or after. There is no such thing as “good” and “bad” foods. I’ll be repeating that a few times to make sure it sinks in! It’s just food. Every time you feel diet culture starting to sink its claws in repeat that to yourself. Food is food and it has no moral value whatsoever!

As my goal here is for every one of my wonderful Musers to live their best lives I’m going to give you a list of “Diet Says” which I’m going to counter with “CMoo Says.” I’ve never let you down yet have I? All I want is for you all to be healthy (physically and mentally) and happy. That’s my only agenda. Unlike the diet “industry” I’m not trying to sell you anything.

Diet Says “I’ll be eating lots over the holidays. What if I gain weight? I’d better exercise twice as much as usual.

CMoo Says “I’ll be eating more than usual but it’s only for a few days. It will make no difference long term. I’d rather enjoy the time with my loved ones than waste it doing extra workouts I don’t need”

Diet Says “I can have my Christmas/Thanksgiving dinner but I must be super healthy for every other meal”

CMoo Says “I’m going to enjoy my Christmas dinner. If I’m full for the next couple of days I’ll eat salad. If I want to eat chocolate for breakfast I’ll do that too. There are no good and bad foods. It’s only for a few days. Long term there will be no difference to my weight or health”

Diet Says “No roast potatoes. They’re too bad or naughty!”

CMoo Says “There is no such thing as good and bad foods. I won’t have potatoes because (horrifying secret) I don’t like them! I will be eating stuffing, Yorkshire puddings, pigs in blankets and trifle though”

Diet Says “If I gain weight I’ll be a failure”

CMoo Says “I’ll only be a failure if I fail to celebrate this wonderful time of the year with the people I love. I am beautiful whatever my weight. I am so much more than my weight.”

Diet Says “I feel awful when my Grandma/Mum/Husband/Uncle makes comments about my weight.”

CMoo says “Screw em! They’re as much a victim of diet culture as I am. They get one gentle comment about not doing it. After that, I get much more blunt. They have no right to comment on my weight and I wouldn’t dream of commenting on theirs.”

That’s just a few of the more common ones I wanted to share with you. I’m sure you all have a lot more you could add. Pop it in the comments or contact me here if you feel you need holiday help.

The fact is diet culture is everywhere and affects every single part of our lives. Let this holiday season be the first one when you fight back. Where you give yourself full and free permission to enjoy being with the ones you love. It’s been a terrible year due to COVID and we all need it. Nourish your body and enjoy what you eat. You are beautiful just as you are. I accept you and so does every other Muser.