You Can Lose Weight Before the Holidays — And Actually Enjoy Them
- Tanya Rinsky Coaching
- Sep 22, 2025
- 5 min read
Updated: Sep 25, 2025
As of today, we’re just weeks away from Thanksgiving… then Hanukkah… then Christmas… and then New Year’s Eve. The entire holiday season is about to hit — full of parties, food, drinks, family gatherings, stress, and temptations.
The question is: How do you want to feel in your body when it arrives?
Do you want to go into the holidays already feeling bloated, behind, and defeated — telling yourself you’ll “start again in January”? Or do you want to show up to the season having lost a few pounds, feeling good, maybe wearing an outfit you wouldn't have worn a little heavier and most importantly - confident that you won't gain it back?
If you’re leaning toward the second option — the one where you actually enjoy the holidays and feel good about yourself — please read on.
Let me back up and tell you why this matters to me so deeply.
I’m a certified life and health coach now, but long before that, I was just like many of the people I coach today: stuck in a body I hated, ashamed of how I felt, tearing through my closet with nothing to wear, and constantly looking for the “right” diet or quick fix.
At my heaviest, I weighed over 200 pounds on my 5'4" frame. The physical discomfort was real — walking up stairs felt like a workout, my knees and back hurt constantly, and I was always low on energy. But even more than the physical part, it was the emotional weight that crushed me. I was exhausted by the constant guilt, shame, and inner dialogue about food and my body.
And the holidays? They were the worst.
Every year, I’d tell myself I could eat whatever I wanted because I was starting a diet on New Year's Day...and then when that didn't happen, the first day of work in the New Year, and when that didn't happen, the first full week or forget January, I'll try again in February. Or some years, I'd start a diet in January and then be off of it within days or weeks. And all of the money down the tubes on gym memberships that I didn't use or juice cleanses or rigid food programs. The many broken promises I made to myself still makes me want to cry.
Sound familiar?
Fast forward to today — I’ve maintained a nearly 100-pound weight loss for 20 years.
So I promise you: it is possible.
You can feel calm, in control, and proud of yourself this holiday season — and you don’t have to wait until January.
Let Me Show You the Difference
Here’s what life used to feel like for me versus how it feels now:
💞 Dating
Before: Dreading getting dressed for a date. Wearing clothes that covered everything and hoping no one noticed how heavy I was.
Now: Everything changed once I lost the weight and healed my relationship with my body. Before I met my husband, I actually enjoyed getting ready for dates — wearing clothes I loved, feeling confident, and showing up fully as myself (even on dating apps!). Now, that confidence hasn’t gone anywhere. I still love getting dressed up for date nights with my husband — not because I have to look a certain way, but because I want to. Feeling good in my body makes those moments more relaxed, present, and joyful.
🎄 Holidays
Before: Stress eating, drinking to cope, always feeling uncomfortable at family dinners. Dreading photos and silently comparing myself to everyone else.
Now: Participating fully — enjoying food without overeating, feeling light and free, having energy for family fun. Taking pictures with pride.
💒 Weddings / H.S. Reunions
Before: Declining invitations, making excuses, afraid of being judged.
Now: Saying yes, reconnecting with people, walking into rooms with my head held high.
📅 Everyday Life
Before: Out of breath walking up stairs. Avoiding mirrors. Living in baggy clothes. Feeling stuck.
Now: Going up stairs without thinking. Loving the way clothes fit. Feeling vibrant, clear, and in control.
You can do it, too.
The Truth About Holiday Weight Gain — And Why You Need a Plan Now
Most people gain between 5–10 pounds during the holiday season — not because they’re weak, but because they don’t have a plan. They rely on willpower, and when that runs out, they crash.
They tell themselves:
"I’ll start a diet in January."
"It’s just one party."
"I deserve this — it’s the holidays."
And by the time January rolls around, they’re exhausted, heavier, and feeling even worse than before.
You don’t need another cycle of binging and starting over. It just makes things worse.
You need a system that works with your life — not against it.
You don’t need to give up your favorite holiday foods. You need to feel confident saying yes to what you really want and no to what you don’t.
You don’t need to count calories or weigh every bite. You need a framework for making decisions that feel aligned with your body and goals.
What My Clients Get — And What You Can Expect
When I work with clients, I don’t hand out rigid meal plans or tell people what they “can’t” eat. I don’t require calorie tracking, food journaling, or even weigh-ins (unless that’s something you want).
Instead, we build a partnership. Together, we create a plan based on your lifestyle, preferences, and personal values.
My proven program is backed by science and experience, and it focuses on three key elements:
Accountability Partner: You won’t be doing this alone. I walk alongside you — helping you stay focused, consistent, and honest with yourself. Because we meet weekly, I don’t let you slip through the cracks.
Support: You’ll get weekly support, encouragement, and coaching to help you break through the mental blocks and emotional patterns keeping you stuck.
System: We create a simple, repeatable system for making choices that support your goals — not some one-size-fits-all diet. This system can last you for life, not just a few weeks.
Imagine This…
It’s mid-December. You’re heading to a holiday party.
You’re wearing something you feel amazing in. You walk in feeling confident — not anxious about what’s on the buffet table.
You enjoy the party. You eat what you want — without guilt or overeating. You drink mindfully (or not at all). You dance. You laugh. You feel like yourself.
You're actually excited to see the pictures of yourself from the party.
You get home and realize: you didn’t obsess over food. You didn’t spiral. You didn’t beat yourself up.
That’s what freedom feels like.
That’s what I help people create.
Don’t Wait for January
The biggest lie we tell ourselves is that “it’s not the right time.” But the truth is — there’s never a perfect time to start. And if you can learn how to navigate the most food-filled, emotionally charged time of year — you can do it anytime.
So let’s get started now. Let this be the year you walk into the holidays feeling confident, calm, and proud of yourself.
Let this be the year you don’t have to start over in January.
I’d love to support you.
Ready to feel amazing this holiday season? Let’s talk.
Schedule a free Discovery Call or email me directly at Tanya@TanyaRinskyCoaching.com. No pressure — just a real conversation about what’s possible for you.
Does this blog speak to you on behalf of someone else who can use some support? Either forward this blog to them or reach out to me and I'll give you some ideas on how to sensitively approach this topic with a loved one.
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