Season’s Bleatings: Dodging Diet Talk

The words "Season's Bleatings" with a group of sheep in a field, one in the foreground asks "how many calories are in grass?", another replies "seriously Marigold?".
~ Julie de Rohan

At a Christmas party, two guests are standing by the buffet. One has their plate piled high with food. The other has cleverly taken a Buffet Tour and has selected only the food they really wanted. The first guest is eating very quickly, the other is taking their time and savouring their selection.

Guest 1: [Simultaneously talking and eating] “Ooh, this food is so naughty! I daren’t think about how many calories are in it! And I’ve been soooo good recently. Luckily, diet starts again on 1st January, am I right? I’ve found a fabulous new diet. Apparently, it really works. Some Hollywood star – I forget which one – swears by it. They’ve lost loads of weight and look amazing. It’s a bit like the R-Diet I did recently where you cut out carbs, sugar, protein and anything else with an R in it. This one’s called the Imaginarian Diet. Basically, you eliminate every single food and just imagine yourself eating. Brilliant! So easy, right? Apparently, you can lose 2 stone in a week. In the meantime, I’d better make the most of it. I’m so stuffed but why stop now? Might as well be hung for a sheep as a lamb. You’re going to have more too, aren’t you? Go on, let’s be wicked together. After all, it’s Christmas.”

Guest 2: [Smiles warmly] “No, thanks. I’ve had enough.” [walks off to have an infinitely more interesting conversation elsewhere].

Which one are you?

Thought so.

©️ Julie de Rohan 2019.

Published by Julie de Rohan

A specialist psychotherapist helping people struggling with compulsive eating, emotional eating and binge eating disorder.

17 thoughts on “Season’s Bleatings: Dodging Diet Talk”

  3. Lol, I swear you were eavesdropping at my workplace! Faced with talk of celery juice and apple cider vinegar diets, I might mention the imaginary one as an alternative 😂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I’m a little bit concerned it might take off, Karen! I wanted to come up with something so ridiculous no one would believe it, but you never know. Hope you’re able to tune out the diet talk at work, I know a lot of my clients find it challenging.

      Liked by 1 person

  4. The “imagine” diet sounds hilarious. I’d probably slap person no.1 and walk away after the first sentence. I exaggerate, but still. It was exhausting just to read it, let alone experience it. A great way to show how some people have no filter and are not self-aware. People overeating just because it’s a holiday does not make sense to me. If it’s tasty food, enjoy it, but don’t hide under the “holiday” excuse.

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    1. Absolutely – it’s OK to eat food we enjoy all year round, so there’s no need to really go for it at Christmas. I’m glad you wouldn’t really give the first person a slap, but that did make me laugh! You’re right – I think a lot of time we don’t stop and think about how we talk about food and the message we’re sending. Many thanks for sharing your thoughts.

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  5. Thank you for sharing!.. be it a gathering or a restaurant, I use the same diet I use at home.. 🙂 have a Merry Christmas and hope the day (and every day) and all your presents are filled with love and happiness!.. 🙂

    Until we meet again..
    May love and laughter light your days,
    and warm your heart and home.
    May good and faithful friends be yours,
    wherever you may roam.
    May peace and plenty bless your world
    with joy that long endures.
    May all life’s passing seasons
    bring the best to you and yours!
    (Irish Saying)

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  6. I don’t know much about dieting…I go through phases of over indulging, but mostly I eat one meal a day after two eggs for breakfast and tea. when i feel like overeating i try to distract myself with a few pieces of dark chocolate, a cup of tea, or maybe even red wine….most heavy foods make me feel so bad after eating them that i try to avoid them……Happy Holidays : )

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  8. Good view of the different approaches to this kind of situation, Julie. I find just the talk of dieting and calories and such pretty frustrating as some people can be very ignorant in their comments. When around others, savour the food and your ability to make your own choices over what you really want (whether that’s more or less) without any guilt, and don’t forget your ability for selective hearing when there’s conversations you want to avoid! 😉
    Wishing you a very Merry Christmas, Julie! 🎄
    Caz xxxx

    Liked by 1 person

    1. “Selective hearing” – love it! Nothing wrong with a bit of selective hearing, Caz. As you say, let’s tune out the unhelpful comments and just enjoy eating what we want without guilt. A very, very Merry Christmas to you too, Caz – hope you have a good one.

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