Short read: how indulging at Christmas helped me to stop binge eating

Lucy Newport • December 21, 2023

Reading time: 1.5 mins
Originally shared as part of Inbox Reflections — my weekday emails for highly sensitive women who are ready to stop binge eating.


I had a realisation at Christmas a few years ago which played a considerable part in my binge eating recovery. After all the Christmas indulgences, I noticed that my whole being would look forward to eating “normally” or even “healthily” again.

I actually wanted more vegetables, regular meals and to lay off the chocolate.

Do you get that feeling too?

This was a revolution for me because I was used to heavily controlling the food I ate, particularly food that I deemed “treaty” or even more so, “naughty”. I did this because I thought that if I freely allowed myself those foods, I wouldn’t stop eating them. 

But each Christmas I’d prove myself to be wrong. My body would always step in and say “ENOUGH”. Usually a day or two before New Year’s. 

And from this, I could see how it was instead my restrictive thoughts and behaviours that drove me to binge…

When I opened the fun food floodgates at Christmas I’d go into a frenzy and eat whatever I could whilst it was allowed. Part of me felt like it had to get its fix because come January, I’d be back to a diet, clean eating or “just being good”.

Will I indulge myself this year? Yeah, I will! Food is a big part of my Christmas - it’s a celebration after all. What’s different now however is that I know, deep in my core, that it’s okay.

And that means that there is no panicked frenzy, no guilt and no trying to make up for it. Just enjoyment and acceptance of what it is. I recognise that “enough” signal from my body and enjoy transitioning back to eating more normally for me, knowing that I can eat whatever I want whenever I want. 

If you recognise yourself in this and want help breaking out of your binge and restrict cycles, get yourself enrolled in Breaking the Cycle. This mini-course will teach you how to do this in ways that feel as safe and nurturing as possible (because I know this might feel scary).

And because connecting with others on a similar binge eating recovery journey can be so supportive, I’m also holding a free group session on Tuesday 30th January 2024 for those who enrol before Sunday 28th January.

Learn more about Breaking the Cycle and enrol now.