How to Navigate Christmas Goodies
How to Navigate Christmas Goodies Without Feeling Out of Control
For women 40+ who want to stay consistent without missing out
December is a wonderful month, full of celebrations, cosy evenings, and a chance to slow down.
But for many women, it also comes with a familiar feeling: Christmas goodies at work, at home….everywhere! In addition routines are shifting, and maybe there’s a creeping sense of “losing control.”
If that’s you, you are not alone.
I coach women 40+ every day who feel confident and structured most of the year… until December arrives with mince pies, tins of chocolates, office treats, mulled wine, nibbles, buffets, spontaneous social events and suddenly the wheels wobble.
The problem isn’t the food.
It’s the all-or-nothing mindset we’ve been conditioned into.
Traditionally, December is either:
A time to be “good”. Try really hard to resist every temptation (impossible for me for sure!)
orA write-off (“It’s Christmas… I’ll start again in January”)
Neither of these approaches help your body or your mindset.
And both usually leave you feeling worse.
The good news?
You don’t need to choose between enjoyment and consistency.
You can absolutely have both and it’s so much simpler than you think.
Below are three gentle, realistic strategies my clients use to stay steady through December without guilt, restriction, or missing out on the fun.
1. Choose Your Treats Intentionally
Not every treat is worth it.
We often eat things simply because they’re there; biscuits at work, the chocolates someone brought round, the mince pie we don’t even love but eat out of habit. However after we’ve eaten them we actually find ourselves thinking, “actually that wasn’t as nice as I thought it was going to be…”
Instead, try this:
Pause.
Ask yourself: Do I actually want this right now?
If yes, enjoy it slowly and without guilt.
If not, skip it or tell yourself you can have it later, often this is enough for me to postpone the treat and ultimately consume less.
Women who adopt this approach are always surprised by how many “mindless” treats they never really wanted in the first place.
You don’t need fewer treats.
You need better treats, chosen by you, not by circumstance.
2. Keep Protein Consistent (Especially in December)
One of the biggest reasons women feel “snacky” or out of control at this time of year is blood sugar dysregulation.
When meals get smaller, later, rushed, or carb-heavy (very common in December), cravings increase dramatically, especially mid-afternoon.
Protein stabilises everything.
Keeps you fuller
Reduces cravings
Balances energy
Prevents the “snack spiral”
Makes social eating far easier to manage
A simple rule:
Include protein at every meal.
Even if everything else feels messy, this one practice smooths the day out beautifully.
3. Set a Daily Non-Negotiable
This is where you don’t give up on ALL the excellent habits you’ve been doing all year. We don’t throw the baby out with the bath water. Keep your routines as much as possible, even if some things fall aside, there is much we can still do to keep ourselves grounded.
For example, maybe yours is
A 10-minute Pilates session
Your regular daily meditation
Keeping logging your food
A 15-minute walk
A glass of water before every meal
A 5-minute stretch in the morning
One strength exercise (like squats or rows) for 2 minutes
These actions don’t feel like much…
but they maintain your identity as a woman who looks after herself, even when life gets festive and chaotic.
This identity, not perfection, keeps you steady through December and makes January feel smooth rather than like a “restart.”
The Goal in December Isn’t Fat Loss
It’s:
Maintenance
Joy
Connection
Feeling good in your body
Staying gently consistent
You don’t need a flawless month.
You simply need a grounded one.
