117: Emotional Eating During the Holidays. How to Enjoy Food Without Guilt or Losing Control

Why does emotional eating feel harder during the holidays, even when you are doing everything “right?”

In this solo episode of The Lizzie Ens Show, Lizzie breaks down the real root causes of emotional eating during the holiday season and why it is not a willpower problem. From stress and disrupted sleep to loneliness, nostalgia, cortisol spikes, and food guilt, you will learn exactly what is happening in your body and nervous system when cravings take over.

Lizzie shares practical tools for setting boundaries without restriction, how to release the shame spiral after overindulging, and the science behind dopamine, desserts, and the “rule of three bites.” She also gives real-life strategies for navigating social pressure, holiday parties, and family dynamics without losing your peace or your progress.

This episode is for you if you:

• Struggle with stress eating or binge eating during the holidays
• Feel trapped in all-or-nothing thinking with food
• Want to enjoy holiday meals without guilt
• Are healing your relationship with food and your body
• Want sustainable health without burnout

This is not about perfection.

It is about peace with food, with your body, and with yourself.

We talk about:

• 0:00 Why emotional eating spikes during the holidays
• 3:00 Stress, sleep, cortisol, and cravings
• 7:00 Loneliness, boredom, and emotional hunger
• 12:00 Boundaries vs restriction with food and alcohol
• 16:00 Dessert, dopamine, and the rule of three
• 19:00 Why guilt is more harmful than sugar
• 22:00 Mindful eating, digestion, and slowing down
• 25:00 Holiday party strategies and what to bring
• 28:00 Releasing guilt, resetting, and self-compassion
• 31:00 Creating joy and connection beyond food

Connect with me

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lizzieens_wellness
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lizzieenswellness
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lizzieh_wellness
• Website: https://undietyou.com/

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