The holidays can be brutal if you’re struggling with body image. Between the endless feasts, unsolicited comments about your weight, and the horror stories of how everyone gains “those 6 extra pounds,” it’s no wonder anxiety skyrockets.
It’s tempting to obsess over the scale, overanalyze every bite, and start planning your post-holiday crash diet. (Spoiler: They never work.) But what if, instead of spiraling into a cycle of guilt and restriction, you stopped for a moment and asked yourself the right questions?
This post isn’t about how to cut carbs, avoid cookies, or fit into some ridiculous version of “holiday perfection.” It’s about shifting your perspective and giving yourself a chance to live differently.
By asking better questions, you can transform how you see your body and your relationship with food—not just during the holidays, but for life.
Here are 27 questions to help you rethink your body image during the holidays and find some peace in the chaos.
- Would I rather wear a size 0 or be happy?
Kinda obvious, right? But it’s worth asking. - What’s my legacy going to be if I keep obsessing over my weight?
Take a deep breath and think about it. Is the size of your jeans the thing you want to be remembered for? - What do I want my legacy to be?
Once you’re clear on where you don’t want to go, think about where you do. What matters most to you? - What am I experiencing right now?
When the urge to binge or restrict hits, pause. Check in with yourself. What’s happening in this moment? - What would it be like to trust my body?
For real—have you ever tried trusting your body? Imagine what might change if you stopped fighting with it. - How does our culture influence the way I see myself?
Ask yourself if society’s beauty standards actually reflect your own values—or if you’ve been sold a lie. - Who would I be if I were a size 0?
Would you truly be different, or would you just be the same you, with fewer carbs? - What would be so bad about never reaching my goal weight?
Play out the “worst-case scenario.” What would happen if you never lost those last 20 pounds? - What am I hoping to get out of losing this weight?
What’s the real goal here? Confidence? Freedom? Love? Spoiler: You can have all of that now. - How would I feel if I enjoyed my food instead of worrying about it?
What would change if you stopped seeing food as an enemy and started seeing it as, you know, food? - What am I getting out of staying where I am?
Sometimes, staying stuck feels safe. What’s holding you back from change? - Who am I secretly blaming for my relationship with food and my body?
Let it out. Write a rant, name names, and get honest. Then, let it go. - How can I feel “thin” right now?
We’re not really chasing a smaller body; we’re chasing lightness and freedom. How can you feel that today? - When I resolve to diet, what am I actually doing?
Ask yourself: Have diets ever worked for me? What’s different this time? - If my body were an animal, thing, or place, what would it be?
What would it teach you? How would you treat it differently? - What would I do if I didn’t fight my body?
Imagine the possibilities. What would life look like if you stopped fighting? - Am I ready to try a different way?
Be honest. Are you ready to change, or are you clinging to old habits that don’t serve you? - What do I already know isn’t working for me?
Sometimes we keep doing things that stopped working years ago. Why are you holding on? - What’s a healthy attitude towards eating—for me?
Forget the diet rules. What does healthy eating look like for you? - Who would I be without the thought that I’m powerless around food?
How would your behavior change if you believed you were in control? - When was I happiest in my life?
Did it have anything to do with the scale or dieting? - How has my relationship with food helped me?
Food isn’t just food—it’s a tool we use to cope, to protect ourselves. What has it done for you? - Can I love the person inside the body?
Even if you can’t love your body right now, can you love the human being living in it? - How will hating my body make me love it?
Seriously, how? - Why am I creating self-imposed misery until I lose weight?
What if you chose happiness now and made the journey fun? - How can I live my life right now, at this weight?
Your life doesn’t start after the weight loss. It’s happening now. - Why do I believe I can’t be happy as I am?
What’s stopping you? And what would it take to believe otherwise?
The Bottom Line
The holidays are about more than your weight, your plate, or the size of your jeans. This year, challenge the way you think about your body image during the holidays. Ask better questions, shift your perspective, and give yourself the gift of freedom.
I’d love to know which of these questions resonated with you the most! Share your thoughts in the comments. <3
