The holiday season often brings indulgence, followed by feelings of guilt over food choices. Instead of letting shame linger, it’s essential to use those emotions as motivation to create positive changes. Simple steps like reducing sugar intake, using smaller plates, and drinking more water can make a big difference without sacrificing enjoyment.

Balance is key over restricting yourself can be as harmful as overindulging. Finding healthier alternatives, such as sugar substitutes like monk fruit or stevia, allows you to enjoy holiday treats guilt-free. By approaching holiday eating with a proactive plan, you can prioritize your health while still savoring the season.

Highlights of the Podcast

00:37 – Is Guilt a Healthy Motivator?

01:13 – Proactive Tips for Holiday Eating

01:51 – The Balance Between Indulgence and Denial

02:58 – Focus on Reducing Sugar

Narrator [00:00:01] Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention, please? Covering both sides of the big issues with the analysis you trot on Newsradio 1040 W.H.O.

FOX NEWS Radio Host [00:00:11] I’m doing it. You’re probably doing it. You’re enjoying all this great food during the holiday season, but you’re guilting yourself over it. Is that really healthy? Here’s a healthy living expert who takes a holistic approach to healing by looking at the mind, body and spirit. Dr. Matt Chalmers is back on the Davidson Family Dentistry Newsmaker Line. Dr. Chalmers, good morning. Welcome back to W.H.O. Radio.

Dr. Matt Chalmers [00:00:36] Good morning. Thanks for having me.

FOX NEWS Radio Host [00:00:37] So, Doctor, look, I tell myself, hey, as long as I feel guilty about all of this, I’ll get back on track after the holidays. But is that really the healthy way to approach eating during the holidays?

Dr. Matt Chalmers [00:00:50] If the guilt gets you actually back on track, then yeah. The problem we get into is it’s people don’t make any positive change and they’re just sitting there in their shame. It gets really, really bad for them. And that’s that’s definitely not a place we want to go.

FOX NEWS Radio Host [00:01:03] So what is a proactive way? Dr. Chalmers, you’re not going to turn down all of the chocolate, but what is the proactive way to keep healthy during the holiday season?

Dr. Matt Chalmers [00:01:13] So the big thing on this is that when we feel guilt or shame kind of take take a step back, look at it, be like, did I do something wrong? And if you did, then find a path out of it to fix it. So, for instance, like, I eat too much sugar this holiday season. Okay, great. Is there a fix for that? We call this moving to the car side of the equation. Okay. Okay. So I’m going to start making my food with our yellows, monk fruit, stevia, so I can get rid of some of the sugar that causes me the problem. Fantastic. Or if I’m overeating, I’ll use smaller plates. I’ll drink more water, you know, that type of thing. Coming up with a plan to fix these things is the proper response to the grief and to the shame.

FOX NEWS Radio Host [00:01:51] Dr. Matt Chalmers on Newsradio 1040 W.H.O. So Dr. Chalmers, I often think, okay, if you go to a party and you say, I’ve overindulged too much and you sort of resist, you say, okay, I’m not going to have any any big snacks here. I’m not going to eat for fun here. Could you be actually doing yourself some damage through just constant denial?

Dr. Matt Chalmers [00:02:15] As long as the denial is part of a plan to make yourself better. Absolutely not. Because what that’s going to do is going to build, you know, your self-worth as you build your self esteem through the the. I chose not to do this thing and it was hard to do, but I did it anyway. And I, I was better for it then. Yeah, it’s actually really beneficial if all you ever do is deny yourself things that you set again. And this negative function of I never get to do anything, nothing’s ever fun. That’s problematic.

FOX NEWS Radio Host [00:02:42] Doctor, is there one thing we should be thinking about during this holiday season? I’m reading a lot about sugar and how much sugar we’re taking in during the holiday season. Is there one thing that that you think people really should be thinking about when they’re thinking about eating healthier?

Dr. Matt Chalmers [00:02:58] The biggest sugar is a great place to start. Yeah, it’s a it’s a pretty easy thing to replace if you’re going to make your own foods, if you’re going to buy your foods from somewhere else. There’s a lot of sugar free alternatives that really are pretty much just as good as some of the sugar filled alternatives. So, you know, taking that that that sort of approach of I’m here’s a problem. I’m going to start creating a plan to fix this problem, then, Yeah, it’s a fantastic place to start. And sugar is probably one of the places I start with people that most.

FOX NEWS Radio Host [00:03:26] Healthy living expert, Dr. Matt Chalmers. Dr. Chalmers, of course that’s timely commenting. Thanks very much for your advice for us this morning.

As always if you have any questions, please send them to [email protected]

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Dr. Matt Chalmers

Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only. Before taking any action based on this information you should first consult with your physician or health care provider. This information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health providers with any questions regarding a medical condition, your health, or wellness