In this festive and heartfelt Christmas special, Julia Trehane and Victoria Kleinsman team up again to address your holiday-related questions around food, family dynamics, and self-compassion. This episode is filled with actionable advice, warmth, and plenty of laughs as they navigate the joys and challenges of the holiday season. Whether you’re recovering from an eating disorder, supporting someone in recovery, or simply looking for tips to make this Christmas a little more mindful, this episode has something for you.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
How to navigate Christmas with less food-related anxiety.
Practical strategies for setting boundaries with loved ones.
How to embrace body changes and dress confidently during recovery.
Ways to create a more joyful, connection-focused holiday experience.
Questions Answered in This Episode:
"How can I feel less stressed about all the food around at Christmas?"
Tips for managing overwhelm.
Strategies for focusing on the festive experience rather than the food.
"How do I handle triggering comments about food or bodies from family members?"
Setting boundaries with love and compassion.
Examples of responses to deflect or address comments.
"What can I do when I feel pressure to eat more to prove I'm not restricting?"
The importance of honesty and self-trust.
Setting boundaries to protect your recovery.
"How can I reintroduce fear or binge trigger foods without relapsing?"
Addressing scarcity vs. abundance mindsets.
Practical steps for reintroducing foods safely and confidently.
"What’s your favorite Christmas food?"
A lighthearted discussion about holiday treats and traditions.
"How can I manage the overwhelming amount of food, people, and choices during the holidays?"
Tips for grounding yourself when things feel chaotic.
Practical ideas for finding calm amidst the festivities.
"How do I handle body changes and dressing confidently in recovery?"
Embracing the present moment and letting go of comparison.
Styling tips and finding joy in dressing authentically.
"Does metabolism increase when you eat more? What if I’m already gaining on a low intake?"
Understanding how the body heals and regulates itself in recovery.
Trusting your set point weight and your body's wisdom.
"How do I stop preemptively restricting when I have little control over holiday meals?"
Choosing self-compassion over preemptive restriction.
Managing expectations and staying grounded in recovery.
"How can I allow myself to just eat all the food?"
Shifting your mindset to unconditional permission to eat.
Letting go of holiday rules and embracing true freedom.
Festive Takeaways:
Write yourself a loving letter or record a voice note to open on Christmas morning as a gentle reminder to stay grounded in self-compassion. Julia will be recording a special podcast meditation for this too. Make sure you follow Fly To Freedom podcast for that.
Start a new holiday tradition that brings joy and connection to your season.
Focus on the memories you create, not just the food you eat.
Resources Mentioned:
Victoria’s free support group for direct, compassionate guidance (visit her website for details).
Julia’s podcast episode with stylist Alice Nichols on dressing for body changes.
Stay Connected:
Follow Julia and Victoria on social media for more holiday tips and encouragement.
Don’t forget to share your Christmas stories with us—tag us or send a message to let us know how this episode helped you!
Victoria can be contacted here:
Website: https://victoriakleinsman.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/victoriakleinsmanofficial/
Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4iNYvEWvgW9a0wNaj4m9hf?si=9ccb805e23544356
Apart from this podcast, you can find much more information from me here:
Website: https://juliatrehane.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juliatrehane/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090553513117
Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a mindful holiday season! 🎄