Pay $99 or less
Actor Portrayal

Navigating The Holidays While Focusing On Your Goals

Published by on

Navigating body image, self-esteem, and our relationship with food while focusing on your weight-loss goals is a year-round struggle for many that only seems to be amplified during the holiday season.

 

Food is most defiantly the star during the holidays. From elaborate Thanksgiving dinner spreads to delicious holiday cookie exchanges to extravagant holiday parties at work, there is simply no shortage of food when it comes to this time of year. This can make things difficult when trying to find the balance between staying on track with your goals and not missing out on these special events and foods. So, if the idea of sitting down to enjoy a holiday meal while sticking to goals or spending time with family who might comment on your eating habits in relation to your weight loss journey makes you spiral, know that you aren’t alone. There is a healthy way to participate in the upcoming holidays while still staying on course to hit your weight loss goals.

 

Tip 1: Avoid Food Talk    

Food may be at the center of the holiday table, but that doesn’t mean it has to be the center of the conversation. Challenge yourself to skip talking about the food, especially calories, whatever restrictions you might be following, and anything to do with how eating a food item will affect your weight loss journey.  

 

When food-related items are discussed, sincere comments can transpire into a food-focused conversation ending in guilt or shame for many which can negatively affect your journey and progress. If you feel a shift in the conversation, politely cut the topic short and switch to a different topic. You know what topics are conducive to your goals and which ones might take you back a step.

 

Tip 2: Ditch The Food Guilt 

Unfortunately, we live in a very diet-obsessed culture that has labeled certain foods as “good” and “bad. This categorization of foods creates a moral value system where guilt and shame are felt when certain foods are consumed.     

While food has a nutritional value, it does not have a moral value: food is food. It’s not good or bad, and a person is not right or wrong for eating a certain food item. Attaching your worth to what you consume is a silly habit many of us fall victim to. During this time of year, food serves a cultural and celebratory purpose, be it a favorite family recipe or a special treat you can only find during the holiday season; many foods have more sentimental value than we may perceive. You can one hundred percent enjoy a special food or treat in moderation without falling off track. Being mindful of your consumption and staying on track with your healthy habits such as drinking plenty of water and getting some movement in before or after meals reduces your risk of regressing on your goals.

 

 

Tip 3: Be Kind To Yourself  

The holidays can be stressful and overwhelming without the added pressure of staying on track with your goals. That’s why it’s more important than ever to practice self-compassion and self-care. Having a few affirmations that make you feel empowered and calm about your body and your goals can be super helpful to recite when faced with difficult situations. Statements like: “I am grateful for my body and what it allows me to do,” or “Others’ opinions of my body and my goals do not affect me,” or “My worth is not tied to food”, can all be statements that help you regain focus and show yourself some TLC.  

If you find you fall off track, be gentle with yourself and get back on track without beating yourself up. Mistakes happen and it's important to realize that's where growth happens as well. No one is perfect and slip-ups will happen but showing yourself grace, acknowledging why it happened, and getting back on track is a victory on its own. You are doing great, believe it!

 

Progress During The Holidays Is Possible   

At its core, the holiday season is about celebrating with the people you love—and that includes yourself. Body image and body positivity struggles as well as the challenges that come with staying focused on your journey during the holidays are real, but they don’t have to be the focal point of your holidays. You deserve to feel empowered, joyful, cared for, and supported throughout the holidays and all year long.  We hope these tips help you savor the holiday season while continuing to progress on your weight loss journey.

 

 

CON-1443-001 11/22
Back to Blog

Related Articles

Important Safety Information
What is CONTRAVE?
See More 

CONTRAVE can cause serious side effects including:

Suicidal thoughts or actions: One of the ingredients in CONTRAVE is bupropion. Bupropion has caused some people to have suicidal thoughts or actions or unusual changes in behavior, whether or not they are taking medicines used to treat depression. Bupropion may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or actions in some children, teenagers, and young adults within the first few months of treatment. If you already have depression or other mental illnesses, taking bupropion may cause it to get worse, especially within the first few months of treatment.

CONTRAVE is a prescription weight-loss medicine that may help some adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m2 or greater (obese), or adults with a BMI of 27 kg/m2 or greater (overweight) with at least one weight-related medical problem such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or type 2 diabetes, lose weight and keep the weight off.

Important Safety Information
See More
CONTRAVE can cause serious side effects including:
Suicidal thoughts or actions: One of the ingredients in CONTRAVE is bupropion. Bupropion has caused some people to have suicidal thoughts or actions or unusual changes in behavior, whether or not they are taking medicines used to treat depression. Bupropion may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or actions in some children, teenagers, and young adults within the first few months of treatment. If you already have depression or other mental illnesses, taking bupropion may cause it to get worse, especially within the first few months of treatment.
What is CONTRAVE?
See More
CONTRAVE is indicated as an adjunct to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity for chronic weight management in adults with an initial body mass index (BMI) of:
Important Safety Information
What is CONTRAVE?
See Less 

CONTRAVE can cause serious side effects including:

Suicidal thoughts or actions: One of the ingredients in CONTRAVE is bupropion. Bupropion has caused some people to have suicidal thoughts or actions or unusual changes in behavior, whether or not they are taking medicines used to treat depression. Bupropion may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or actions in some children, teenagers, and young adults within the first few months of treatment. If you already have depression or other mental illnesses, taking bupropion may cause it to get worse, especially within the first few months of treatment.

While taking CONTRAVE, you or your family members should pay close attention to any changes, especially sudden changes, in mood, behaviors, thoughts, or feelings. This is very important when you start taking CONTRAVE or when your dose changes.

Stop taking CONTRAVE and call a healthcare provider right away if you or your family members notice any of the following symptoms, especially if they are new, worse, or worry you: thoughts about suicide or dying; attempts to commit suicide; depression; anxiety; feeling agitated or restless; panic attacks; irritability; aggression, anger, or violence; acting on dangerous impulses; an extreme increase in activity and talking; other unusual changes in behavior or mood; trouble sleeping.

CONTRAVE is not approved for use in children under the age of 18.

Do not take CONTRAVE if you have uncontrolled high blood pressure; have or have had seizures; use other medicines that contain bupropion such as WELLBUTRIN, WELLBUTRIN SR, WELLBUTRIN XL, APLENZIN and ZYBAN; have or have had an eating disorder called anorexia or bulimia; are dependent on opioid pain medicines or use medicines to help stop taking opioids, or are in opiate withdrawal; drink a lot of alcohol and abruptly stop drinking, or use medicines called sedatives (these make you sleepy), benzodiazepines, or anti‐seizure medicines and stop using them all of a sudden; are taking or have taken medicines called monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) in the past 14 days; or are allergic to any of the ingredients in CONTRAVE.

Tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you have: depression or other mental illnesses; attempted suicide; seizures; head injury; tumor or infection of brain or spine; low blood sugar or low sodium; liver or kidney problems; high blood pressure; heart attack, heart problems, or stroke; eating disorder; drinking a lot of alcohol; prescription medicine or street drug abuse; are 65 or older; diabetes; pregnant or planning to become pregnant; or breastfeeding.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

CONTRAVE may cause serious side effects, including:

  • Seizures. There is a risk of having a seizure when you take CONTRAVE. The risk of seizure is higher in people who take higher doses of CONTRAVE, have certain medical conditions, or take CONTRAVE with certain other medicines. Do not take any other medicines while you are taking CONTRAVE unless your healthcare provider has said it is okay to take them. If you have a seizure while taking CONTRAVE, stop taking CONTRAVE and call your healthcare provider right away.

  • Risk of opioid overdose. Do not take large amounts of opioids, including opioid-containing medicines, such as heroin or prescription pain pills, to try to overcome the opioid-blocking effects of naltrexone. This can lead to serious injury, coma, or death.

    Get emergency medical help right away if you take opioids and you:

    • have trouble breathing

    • become very drowsy with slowed breathing

    • have slow, shallow breathing

    • feel faint, very dizzy, confused, or have unusual symptoms

  • Sudden opioid withdrawal. People who take CONTRAVE must not use any type of opioid, including street drugs, prescription pain medicines, cough, cold, or diarrhea medicines that contain opioids, or opioid dependence treatments, for at least 7 to 10 days before starting CONTRAVE. Using opioids in the 7 to 10 days before you start taking CONTRAVE may cause you to suddenly have symptoms of opioid withdrawal when you take it. Sudden opioid withdrawal can be severe, and you may need to go to the hospital. Tell your healthcare provider you are taking CONTRAVE before a medical procedure or surgery.

  • Severe allergic reactions. Stop taking CONTRAVE and call your healthcare provider or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away if you have any of the following signs and symptoms of an allergic reaction: rash, itching, hives, fever, swollen lymph glands, painful sores in your mouth or around your eyes, swelling of your lips or tongue, chest pain, or trouble breathing.

  • Increases in blood pressure or heart rate. Some people may get high blood pressure or have a higher heart rate when taking CONTRAVE. Your healthcare provider should check your blood pressure and heart rate before you start taking, and while you take CONTRAVE.

  • Liver damage or hepatitis. Stop taking CONTRAVE and tell your healthcare provider if you have any of the following symptoms of liver problems: stomach area pain lasting more than a few days, dark urine, yellowing of the whites of your eyes, or tiredness. Your healthcare provider may need to stop treating you with CONTRAVE if you get signs or symptoms of a serious liver problem.

  • Manic episodes. Bupropion can cause some people who were manic or depressed in the past to become manic or depressed again.

  • Visual problems (angle-closure glaucoma). Signs and symptoms may include: eye pain, changes in vision, swelling or redness in or around the eye. Talk with your healthcare provider to find out if you are at risk for angle‐closure glaucoma and to get treatment to prevent it if you are at risk.

  • Increased risk of low blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus who also take medicines to treat their diabetes (such as insulin or sulfonylureas). You should check your blood sugar before you start taking CONTRAVE and while you take CONTRAVE.

The most common side effects of CONTRAVE include nausea, constipation, headache, vomiting, dizziness, trouble sleeping, dry mouth, and diarrhea. These are not all of the possible side effects of CONTRAVE.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

What is CONTRAVE?

CONTRAVE is a prescription weight-loss medicine that may help some adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m2 or greater (obese), or adults with a BMI of 27 kg/m2 or greater (overweight) with at least one weight-related medical problem such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or type 2 diabetes, lose weight and keep the weight off.

CONTRAVE should be used with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.

It is not known if CONTRAVE changes your risk of heart problems or stroke or of death due to heart problems or stroke.

It is not known if CONTRAVE is safe and effective when taken with other prescription, over-the-counter, or herbal weight-loss products.

CONTRAVE is not approved to treat depression or other mental illnesses, or to help people quit smoking (smoking cessation).

Please see Full Prescribing Information, including Medication Guide, for CONTRAVE.