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Ever been on vacation felt all of your eating rules flying right out the window?

It’s that moment when you’re not in your natural habitat, and suddenly you feel like you have a license to eat everything in sight.

(Because hey, you’ll get “back on track” when you get home, right?)

Only when you do get home, you feel sluggish, exhausted, and guilty instead of refreshed, rested, and revived. Hardly the point of a vacation, is it?

I hear you. In fact, that’s one of the questions I get asked the most often–what happens when you’re on vacation and feel the pull to eat uncontrollably because the type of food available is different and well, just because you “can?”

For about seven years of my 12-year struggle with binge and emotional eating, I would almost dread vacations.

Instead of getting excited about an exotic location or much-needed time off, I’d be obsessing about “slimming down” so that I’d look good in the bikini and the dresses I planned to wear.

And when I got to my vacation destination, any hope I had of keeping control with food was dashed immediately.

I’d make up all the usual excuses, too. Things like “Oh, I’m on vacation,” or, “But I never get this kind of food…”

But after the feeding frenzy was over, I’d end up feeling bloated, sluggish, and heavy.

Even worse, I spent the rest of my time stuck in my head, obsessing about food. What I could eat, what I couldn’t eat…

In the end, I lost many precious moments because I couldn’t get out of my head. I was in such a brain fog from overeating and obsessing that I missed my own vacation.

Then one day just before a trip to Greece, I decided that enough was enough. I wanted this trip to be different.

I wanted to enjoy this vacation to the fullest, and without worry about what I was going to eat. But at the same time, I wanted to feel alive, energized, and empowered. Was it even possible to do both?

I decided that it was time to find out! So I made a deal with myself. Feeling good was the goal.

And when I got to Greece, a funny thing happened…

I had everything. The pita bread, the tzatziki, all of it. I savored every bite, and I never felt the least bit guilty. And even more interesting–I came back home weighing less than I did before the trip!

It was as though I accidentally discovered the secret to enjoying every moment of a vacation without the guilt or the food hangover!

How did I do it? That’s what I’m sharing with you today!

I’ve got six tips that I used on that vacation and that I currently use in everyday life. And I know they’ll help you embrace your entire vacation experience, including the food, without losing control (and hel you everyday for that matter)

Let’s get right into it HERE!

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Step #1: Make feeling good the top priority.  When you’re on vacation, how do you want to feel? Would you rather feel engaged in the experience, or would you prefer to be tired, sluggish, and exhausted?   

I bet that’s an easy answer!

When I made that trip to Greece, I decided that my top priority was to experience and enjoy every last bit of the trip–including the food–and feel energetic and fabulous in the process.

What did I do differently this time? I allowed myself to have anything I wanted to eat, but at the same time, I put my mental focus on feeling good.

That way not only did I get to experience the food that I wanted, but I also made conscious food choices that left me energized, nourished, and happy.

How did I make this step even more powerful? By putting Step #2 into action!

Step #2: Include at least one high vibe food item at every meal. Now, make no mistake–when I was in Greece, I partook of all the delicious Greek food without hesitation.

But I did something extra that made all the difference: I understood my body’s needs, and I made choices to support it along the way.

For example, I know that my body feels the most empowered when it has greens, vegetables, and light fruits. So at every meal, along with the local delicacies, I included the veggies, the fruits, and of course the Greek salad!

This trick made it a breeze to have a meal that was as nourishing as it was delicious.

Step #3: Be sure to eat enough! Just as it is all too easy to get lost in the chaos of your day-to-day life, when you’re on vacation, sometimes you’re just as much on the run.

Maybe you have so much planned that you skip breakfast or forget to have lunch. Then when dinner time rolls around, you’re running on empty, perhaps you have a few pre-dinner drinks, and then all hell breaks loose with food.

Some of us even plan it that way–to skimp on calories throughout the day so that it’s “acceptable” to indulge in that large evening meal.

But that kind of logic doesn’t accomplish the intended purpose.

When you don’t properly fuel your body throughout the day, vacation or not, starvation mode kicks in.

We’re talking constant obsessive thoughts about food. Eating on autopilot when you DO allow yourself to eat. Cravings for foods that you never “let” yourself have (which is an even bigger thing when you’re on vacation, right?).

But if you take care to eat adequately throughout the day, you feel more steady. More energized. And you won’t go into that end-of-the-day overeating frenzy because you don’t need to.

Step #4: Making present moment food choices. Just because you’re on vacation doesn’t mean disregarding the strategies that support you in your day-to-day life.  

For example, living in the present moment and honoring your body is just as crucial on holidays as it is every other day. In fact, in many ways, present moment living, especially when it comes to food choices, can make your vacation even more fulfilling!

Here’s what I mean by that…

Let’s say that you indulged in some “forbidden food” earlier in the day. You think to yourself, “Oh, well, I blew my diet anyway, might as well keep going …”

But what if you decided to make a food choice that would support you NOW rather than base it on what you ate for lunch?

Make every food choice based on how you want to feel in the moment, not in response to what you did yesterday. Don’t eat the cookies now because you ate cookies at lunchtime and you feel like you “blew it anyway.”

That brings up Step 5!

Step #5: Let yourself enjoy foods that you might not typically have! Let’s remember one thing–you’re on vacation, and you want to have an exceptional experience! And of course, food is part of that experience.

You don’t have to deny yourself that experience for fear of losing control.

It goes back to something I talk about a lot–letting go of controlling, forcing, and shaming your way into eating “right.” Which as we all know only backfires in the end.

So oddly enough, the key to not losing control is actually to let GO of control.

Here’s what I mean by that…

An amazing thing happens when you tell your brain and your body that you can have any food you want at any time. That mystical, forbidden pull to those foods diminishes, along with the power that those forbidden foods have over you.

Now, knowing that you can have any food at any time, when you come across a food that you don’t usually indulge in, ask yourself this present-moment question…

Do I want this right now?

Asking this simple question will realign you with your true self. You’ll be able to tell if you want something because it’s “not allowed,” or you genuinely wish to experience the pleasure of a special delicacy.

Keep yourself in each moment, ask the right questions, and take supportive action. It’ll leave you feeling balanced and content throughout your trip.

I know this one can feel particularly scary but for the women in our program this happens, if you want to learn how you can this a reality for yourself then go here.

Step #6: Remember the basics! It’s easy to forget the standbys when you’re in the whirlwind of a vacation. But make a point to remember two of the most necessary staples for a balanced life: sleep and water.

I know, hardly earth-shattering advice! But when you lack either sleep or hydration, it can trigger survival mode in the same way that lack of food can. Your body thinks it needs food, but all it requires is a big glass of water and a little more sleep.

Take care to prevent dehydration and exhaustion, and you’ll be a lot less likely to fall to erroneous food cravings (and overindulgences).

If you’re about to take a trip, use these tips to help you enjoy the full experience! They’ll help you stay in your power, feel amazing, and relish your vacation in every moment.

And the best news of all is that you can apply these simple steps to empower yourself when you get back home, too!

I know that these tips might sound easy enough, but sometimes implementing them is another story. That’s why I created a special gift for you…

Click the image below where I’ve got a special gift for you! We call them, “Craving Cards”, and they’re one of our most popular tools!

If you ever feel night time cravings, sugar cravings, the urge to just say “screw it I’m going to start my diet over tomorrow”, or like you need a little body confidence pick me up… 

Just grab a card, go through the prompts, and shift it instantly!

Click the image above and let me know where to send them!

You’ll also get mini demo video training sessions for each card where I share how to use the cards and some of my best tips for food freedom forever!

With our Craving Cards and Demo Series… 

You’ll learn how to stop cravings in their tracks, feel confident, and get back your power, fast! 

Love,
Brittany

PS: Want the exact freedom and ease with our foods that myself and thousands of our clients get to experience?

In our Beating Binge Eating Blueprint (BBEB), I show you how to make this happen in just 8 weeks!

Many of our students have seen a DRASTIC difference in as little as a few days!

It’s our signature program, and up until recently, it was $3000 or more to join.

For now, you can get it as a part of our Food Freedom Collection for practically free by clicking the image below!

There is no catch…every resource I’ve created for food freedom and body confidence will land straight in your if you just click that image below and let me know where to send it!

No matter who you are, I bet you’ve had your moments with overeating. Even those of us who don’t necessarily identify with binge or emotional eating occasionally get hit by the scourge of the food consumption on autopilot….

There are parties and holidays with lots of celebratory food, and you just can’t resist. Maybe a stressful day at work sets off a slew of unconscious overindulgence with food.

Honestly, there’s nothing wrong with overeating once in awhile. When overeating on autopilot becomes a habitual pattern rather than an occasional occurrence that’s when things get a bit sticky.

But how do you decipher between a random case of overeating or a compulsive urge to binge?

When do you know it’s time to take a closer look at the drive behind the extra helpings?

Sometimes you just need to bring balance back to your plate. Other times you need to address the underlying causes that drive you to overeat on the regular.

Today I’m sharing the truth about overeating. What is considered “normal” and what might be cause for a bit of pause? I want to help you recognize the difference so that you can stop worrying and start living, and without fear of having an extra helping once in awhile!

Let’s talk about what drives overeating, and how to overcome it without shame, guilt, or control!

We’ll start with a couple of tips to help you reduce the chances of once-in-awhile overindulgence with food. Then, in the third tip, I’ll show you how to understand the differences between normal overeating and compulsive urges to binge.

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Tip #1: Use the power of pause and presence. It’s easy to go through the day on autopilot, especially when you live a jam-packed life. I see people who run themselves ragged throughout the day, grabbing what they can on the run. And usually ending up shoveling in a lot more than they planned to at every stop.

Then there are times when you’re at the end of a chaotic day and the stress hits you all at once. And then the cabinets come calling with the lure of the quick-fix.

Sound familiar? Happens to the best of us! Both of these are examples of everyday unconscious overeating.

Then there are the celebrations. Overeating at parties, holidays, or other moments when there is food around that isn’t normally there. How do special events push the momentary binge buttons in so many of us?

By making people say things like, “I don’t usually eat things like this,” or,  “I’m starting the diet next week so let me eat this now.”

I’m guessing that if you hang out with me here on the regular, you know where that mentality leads you. To dieting, restricting, and controlling. And away from freedom and ease with food.

So how do you get past the moments where you fall into overeating by either convenience or unconsciousness?

Simply slow down, pause, and be in the moment. Get out of your head and into your body, and make your food choices from a conscious place.

The more you make heart-centered eating choices, the less likely you’ll find yourself in an unintended binge situation.

Tip #2: Eating enough throughout the day. It might sound counterintuitive, but eating enough to can actually prevent you from eating too much!

When you’re not properly nourished throughout your day, it can trigger your brain’s survival instincts. That is, you activate the place in your brain that believes that starvation is imminent.

That means that you fixate on food, fall victim to cravings, and eat uncontrollably.

How do you head off those survival-based pangs? By making sure you’re adequately nourished in the first place.

If you apply the Tip #1 and become present in your body first, your mealtime experience will register with your brain. Your brain and body will understand that they’re being fed, cared for, and nourished properly.

When you make conscious food choices and nourish your body adequately, overeating is less likely of a last resort.

Now, here’s the most important tip of all: understanding what triggers overeating in the first place…

Tip #3: Recognizing the difference between normal overeating and compulsions to binge. There is occasionally having a second helping when you’re already full. Then there’s falling victim to an urge to have those second helpings all the time.

One is a mindless, automatic thing that happens without much pressure or regret. The other is has an automatic and compulsive pull to it.

How can you tell the difference?

Here are some of the clues that your overeating is a little less benign and a little more compulsive.  

When you tell yourself NO, you can’t forget what you’re forbidding. You’ll feel like once you see it, you have to have it.

Sometimes you’ll plot and plan secret binges. When you do give in to the craving, you’re eating on autopilot before you know it (grabbing one snack, then another, then another…)

So if your overeating feels like more than an impulsive habit than an incidental happening, there are ways to get back to your center and set yourself free.

A significant part of the process is understanding the physiology behind the brain patterns, and knowing what drives this compulsive overeating behavior.

But you don’t have to shame yourself into submission. You’re not wrong, nor are you broken.

You don’t have to control or fight those urges to binge, either. After all, more control leads to more chaos, which will only lead to more binging.

So if you feel like your overeating carries a painfully compulsive streak, I have a special gift that I know you’re going to love!

Click the image below where I’ve got a special gift for you! We call them, “Craving Cards”, and they’re one of our most popular tools!

If you ever feel night time cravings, sugar cravings, the urge to just say “screw it I’m going to start my diet over tomorrow”, or like you need a little body confidence pick me up… 

Just grab a card, go through the prompts, and shift it instantly!

Click the image above and let me know where to send them!

You’ll also get mini demo video training sessions for each card where I share how to use the cards and some of my best tips for food freedom forever!

With our Craving Cards and Demo Series… 

You’ll learn how to stop cravings in their tracks, feel confident, and get back your power, fast! 

Love,
Brittany

PS: Want the exact freedom and ease with our foods that myself and thousands of our clients get to experience?

In our Beating Binge Eating Blueprint (BBEB), I show you how to make this happen in just 8 weeks!

Many of our students have seen a DRASTIC difference in as little as a few days!

It’s our signature program, and up until recently, it was $3000 or more to join.

For now, you can get it as a part of our Food Freedom Collection for practically free by clicking the image below!

There is no catch…every resource I’ve created for food freedom and body confidence will land straight in your if you just click that image below and let me know where to send it!