Christmas! This is what our wonderful ancient bodies were designed for - the time when the tribe comes across an unexpected honeycomb and people gorge themselves on all that sweetness. Great energy boost for the next few months, and thank goodness for a metabolism with an insulin response so we don't actually die from an excess of sugar!
But the honey lasted for a day or two... not a week, or the whole of December.
For me, I work out what I really want (roast potatoes in duck fat with salt) and what I'm not that bothered about (stolen cake, mince pies). Much of the rest of Christmas is a treat for others but fine for me (creamy buttery scrambled egg with smoked salmon, or cheese and pate and celery).
For the carby-fest visits to family or friends I try to eat something fatty and fulfilling before I go - eggs, butter coffee, or my new found butter soup! Then at least when I get there I'm not hungry and can pick on bits of meat, olives etc. Or arrange to arrive late. Eat at home and join for drinks and snacks (and have a few macademia nuts in your pocket for standby). Offer to bring a salad. Load it with egg, cheese, creamy dressing and hope that no-one else eats it and you can have it all to yourself.
Above all, STOP. Look at what is on your plate. Did you accidentally help yourself to pasta salad? pick out the tuna and leave the pasta. Have you got profiteroles? Is it really worth it. If you can't decide, put your plate down, walk away have a glass of water. Eat the macadamia nuts that you have in your pocket (or the pork scratchings, parmesan crisps - whatever floats your boat). Do you still want yucky pasta?