There are many reasons why this may occur:

• Regression- People have a strong tendency to revert back to former patterns of behavior when they return to places from their past. This is reinforced by the people around them who revert back to old expectations of behavior based on a former “identity”. For example, if you were a “drinker” in college you may find yourself drinking with old college friends just out of habit or failure to forge healthier common ground.

AsktheCBT Tip: Be mindful of yourself and how you want to behave before the holidays occur. Set a reminder for yourself to focus on it just before you get together with people.

AsktheCBT Tip: Make a specific commitment. Don’t just say I don’t want to get drunk. Set a limit to the number of cocktails or the amount you will spend.

AsktheCBT Tip: Practice ways to say “No thank you”. This way when your Uncle Al invites you to sneak out after dinner for your ritualistic post meal cigarette you can be prepared with “Thanks but I quit a week ago and I want to enter the New Year feeling good rather than making promises”

“Holiday Head”: The Cognitive Influence – Where you justify every indulgent behavior with some notion of “it’s a special occasion so its okay to over indulge.”

This goes with food as well as spending.

Here’s some news: Money is money and food is food whether you spend or eat it on a holiday or not, if you cannot afford it or your waist line is already being pushed to the limit then don’t justify it. Remember that the food and items will most likely be there tomorrow.

• Stress- Not only does stress cause a physiological response in the body that shuts down our ability to digest food properly but it also shuts down our bodies’ ability to detect when it’s truly hungry.

On top of that, studies show that overweight or obese people have a  tendency to be more sensitive to certain external cues (e.g. taste, smell, social situations) than to internal cues (stomach motility) so in stressful situations heavier people are likely to over eat.

AsktheCBT Tip:  Breathe deeply. You can manage your hormone levels by engaging in properly paced diaphragmatic breathing (see my article on breathing your way to happiness for instruction). This will shut down your fight or flight response and work to restore your bodies’ equilibrium before you reach for another serving of potatoes.

• Failure to exercise: Due to “holiday head” (rationalizing that the holidays are a
time to relax and kick back) or because of less free time around the holidays people tend to forgo their exercise routine.

This is actually the worse time of year to indulge in a sedentary lifestyle- As our body becomes sedentary our nervous systems begin to mellow out, becoming “Flat”- similar to the make up of a depressed person. Studies show that when people are depressed they seek ways to self medicate with alcohol, cigarettes, food and spending.

AsktheCBT Tip: Head it off at the pass! Don’t skimp on the exercise. If your gym is closed or operating on a limited schedule this is the time to take a walk outside or break out that DVD. The point is do something to get your body going for at least 20 minutes so you allow your body to secrete endorphins to liven your mood!

AsktheCBT Tip: If you exercise briefly before and after the meal you are more likely to maintain a healthy view throughout the dinner and will avoid the desire to snack before dinner starts.

Zipping it up: Don’t fail to enlist the support of others when trying to change behaviors. People who fail to ask for help from friends and family members because they are embarrassed, think they should be able to manage these things on their own or don’t want to be held accountable by others, reduce their chances of being successful. Why? Because as I already mentioned, people will expect you to behave the same unless you give them a reason to expect something different.

• First, don’t avoid youth sports if at all possible. In my opinion, sport participation can be a wonderful therapeutic tool if used in a safe and responsible manner. Being a part of a team, learning the value of motivation and perseverance, and enjoying the thrill of exciting games are things all kids can experience. In youth sports there are countless “teachable moments” that you can use to improve self-esteem and confidence – both of which can be used beyond the playing field.
• There also are a countless number of athletic skills kids can learn while playing sports that can be used for success in school, social relationships, and every aspect of life. For example, sport skills like setting goals, communicating with coaches and teammates, being on time for practices and games, and making decisions during a game, are all skills that can be used every day.
• Remember, always reinforce and reward the effort, not the final score. If you are paying close attention, there always are moments in a game where you will see your child trying to do his or her best – be sure to overtly discuss these moments immediately after the game. Even if your child doesn’t always succeed, you will help shape his or her personality by enhancing their self-esteem and confidence.
• Take great pride in your child every time he goes out to compete. When kids look into the crowd and see their parents excited and cheering them on, you can easily see the impact it has on character development and self-esteem.
• If your child has severe limitations, a traditional sports league may not always be the best option. Fortunately, many athletic organizations nationwide, including the Special Olympics, can provide your child with opportunities to play sports.

Regardless of which sports league your child competes in, the most important thing is that he or she has a fair chance to experience one of the greatest things about being a kid – being involved in youth sports!

* Dr. Chris Stankovich offers individual athletic counseling and team/league seminars. Read Dr. Stankovich’s new book, Sports Success 360. The book gives coaches, parents and student athletes life strategies for performance and character development. Visit drstankovich.com for more details.

12/23/2009: Charity Bash (Party) at The Goat Tavern in The LifeStyle Communities with DJ Michael Mullins and his crew to help raise money for Children’s Body Image Foundation & Pediatric Cancer.

12/22/2009: We will be providing financial assistance/awards on Dec. 22, 2009 for: 1) Pediatric Healthy Weight & Nutrition 2) Pediatric Cancer Research 3) Pediatric Counseling 4) Juvenile Diabetes Research 5) Prosthetics & Orthotics for Children. We will also be providing TOYS (2 shopping carts full)for children who have to stay in the hospital for the holidays.

12/05/2009: The SAM BISH CHARITY AUCTION was held on Saturday, December 5th at 471 E. College Avenue in Columbus, Ohio at 1:00pm. Sam Bish is an 8 year old boy with osteosarcoma and just had his right leg amputated and now must have surgery on his lungs for tumors. Children’s Body-Image Foundation presented a check for $500 to the Bish family. For more information or to make a donation for little Sam call (614) 419.8438

12/03/2009: CBIF sent $500 to children of abuse, neglect, and violent homes through the Amethyst program for this holiday season.

12/02/2009: Children’s Body-Image Foundation $480 to sponsor 12 children for The Franklin County Children’s Services Fill a Holiday Wish Program. Get involved, contact Franklin County Children’s Services for more information 614.275.2525

11/27/2009: We support Healthy Choices for Healthy Children Coalition, for more information please visit: http://www.healthychoiceshealthychildren.org/

11/21/2009: Please don’t forget our foundation when you decide to make your end of year charitable contributions, we are a nonprofit 501c3. Thank you.

11/14/2009:  We celebrate the life of Dr. Ignacio Ponseti, father of the Ponseti Method, a revolutionary nonsurgical means of treating clubfoot in babies.  He passed away in October at the age of 95. http://www.ponseti.info/v1/

10/16/2009:  Six months after helping to create and launch this chairty I never imagined that it would have grown to this level and be embraced by the public like it has.   I want to take a moment to thank everyone involved and hope that this foundation continues to grow and is able to help as many children as we can. -Dave Wilson (CBIF Board Member)

*Interested in participating in this program? Contact us via the link at the bottom of this page*

1) BUSINESS  SPONSORS:  Our business sponsors are a vital part of our foundation and they show their support in helping us to raise children’s body-image awareness by donating money, and or, donating gifts for our fundraising events.  The support of these business sponsors make it possible for our foundation to have fun and exciting fundraising events which are vital towards raising capital for our cause.  We are VERY grateful!

2) BUSINESS AFFILIATES:  SHOP with our business affiliates, it helps us!  Our business affiliates show their support in helping us to raise children’s body-image awareness by allowing us to display their logo on our website. These corporate partners will make a donation to our foundation everytime you make a purchase from them by first going through our website. In essence, everytime you need something from them, purchase it through our website via our Corporate Affiliates page, and they will make a donation to our foundation on your behalf. So, make a donation by getting the things you want. It works and it’s awesome! 

3) BUSINESS  FRIENDS:  Our business friends believe in the work and assistance Children’s Body-Image Foundation provides to the community. Our business friends show their support in helping us to raise children’s body-image awareness by making a commitment to our cause, spreading the word about our foundation and it’s purpose, and helping us get the word out about our up coming fundraisers.

When Anna was born she was diagnosed with Bilateral Club Feet.  Her treatment included serial casting that began when she was only 3 days old; her casts too heavy for her to lift her legs.  Unfortunately, her first round of treatment did not fully correct her feet and she had to endure another 12 weeks of casting and bilateral tenotomy.  Today, Anna still has to wear foot braces at night and walking braces in the evening and even at 5 years old she is aware that her feet are alittle different from her friends.  This however, doesn’t stop her from having fun, running, and being a beautiful and healthy little girl.  Children’s Body-Image Foundation is here to help raise children’s body-image awareness and help improve children’s self esteem and help them get the necessary medical equipment/treatment they need.

“When Lucas arrived at Children’s, he was in a state of complete muscle paralysis,” said Dr. Rosalind Batley, Lucas’ attending physician in the Section of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Nationwide Children’s. “He was on a ventilator 24/7 and he was too weak to stand or sit up. He was on a feeding tube, basically bound to his bed. I had never treated a case of botulism in my 25 years of practicing Rehab medicine, and Lucas was a very, very sick young man.” “Therapy has made a night and day difference for Lucas,” said his mom Joann. “Initially he was depressed and discouraged, and I will admit there were times when I wondered what the future would hold. The Children’s Rehab team is amazing. Every week they set goals with him, they are upbeat, encouraging and positive. They manage to push him to do more than he thinks he can do while keeping the therapy positive and fun.” Lucas’s therapy includes physical, occupational, respiratory, recreational, speech, and massage, along with school tutoring on a daily basis. Lucas’ mom said this experience has changed their lives. We realize that life is fragile, and we live every moment in thanks for the care we’ve received. The doctors, nurses, therapists, friends, family and Co-workers have made all the difference.”

“Click here to make a donation to Children’s Body-Image Foundation”