Thankfulness Over Thinness
“How do I look skinny after Thanksgiving??” an actual question I was asked a few weeks ago. I responded with “don’t ever ask me that question again.” And I meant it. I also didn’t know what else to say, because I was baffled to even be asked that question so bluntly. It was said in a lighthearted, joking manner...but there was a greater amount of truth behind it than jokes. I couldn’t stop thinking about that question all day, and it’s honestly been on my mind ever since, because I knew they weren’t the only one seeking legitimate answers to that question.
As a society, we have created this idea that we are supposed to “look skinny” all of the time, 365 days a year. If you stop and think about what “looking skinny” actually means and looks like, I bet we all have a different picture in our heads to begin with. We are all chasing the same idea of what we think is beautiful, yet it looks different for everyone. We are engaging in a never ending, impossible to win cycle. We are so deeply rooted in our weight and appearance that we can’t even enjoy the holidays. And by “we,” I do in fact mean me. I am just as guilty as every single person in this area, and I have lived most of my life in fear of no longer “looking skinny.” The holiday months are undoubtedly my favorite time of the year, yet they bring me so much anxiety. It’s not because of family, or any other situation you might think. It’s because of food. There is SO MUCH of it. Everywhere. Every time you turn around there’s more food. Look, I’m not saying endless food is a bad thing and I’m not at all complaining about it. I’m expressing the feelings it can stir up in those of us who become anxious around food in general, especially at the thought of endless amounts of it.
The infamous thanksgiving morning 5K, or ~turkey trot~ is a perfect example of how we as a culture view food and exercise. I have participated in this event, not because of my love for running, because that doesn’t exist. Rather, I wanted to make sure I burned enough calories to earn my thanksgiving food and so that I could eat more with less guilt. Sound familiar? (I’ve heard rumors that people do actually enjoy running long distances, so if that’s you, go trot that turkey). But for the rest of us, this isn’t necessary, and it’s not how it has to be. I understand that it may give you peace of mind to get up and move your body on a day like Thanksgiving, and that’s completely fine! I encourage you to do so if you are engaging in exercise out of enjoyment, but I think we need to be cautious when we find ourselves breaking a sweat that’s solely driven by guilt and shame.
Foods are not inherently good or bad, they have no moral conscience. You are allowed to eat whatever you want and however much your body desires. Not only on Thanksgiving day, but everyday of the year. I have recently read that anxiety around holiday foods comes partially because we view these foods as “off limits” every other day of the year, only causing us to go overboard on the one day where we actually allow ourselves to consume them. This year, I encourage you to ignore the food rules and labels you have attributed to certain foods, and allow yourself to eat the dang food. Not only eat it, but go back for seconds-maybe even thirds if you’re still hungry! I know it can be challenging when family members or loved ones make comments about your body or what’s on (or not on) your plate. We can’t control the words they say, but we can choose to not be affected by them, stand our ground, and eat the pie anyways.
You do not have to earn your food on Thanksgiving, nor do you have to earn it the other 364 days of the year. Food is fuel, and our bodies simply need food to survive. You also don’t need to workout extra the day before or after in order to be worthy of enjoying your food. Let’s change the narrative around holiday food this year, which starts by eating what we want and sticking up for ourselves when our choices are challenged.