Just let the quote I have posted breathe over you for a few minutes. Think about it. Can you relate on some level whether it’s now or at some point on your health journey ? It resonated deeply with me the first time I read it.
It’s a thought that permeates our society right now. An out of control, crazy way of thinking.
And it’s designed to have failure as the ultimate outcome.
“Good foods/bad foods”, ” Eliminate food groups”, “Sugar is like cocaine”, “Carbs are bad”. “Fat is bad”…..
Blah. Blah. Blah.
Every single one of those thoughts can potentially set you up for failure when it comes to eating and nourishing your body. Setting up negative thoughts is exactly why so many people struggle with their relationship with food.
You may not like to think of it that way, but you do. We all do.
Those relationships can look really different for all of us.
Food can represent a power struggle in both directions. To one extreme it can result in eating disorders like anorexia… withholding food.
It can go the other direction which is bulimia, a complete out of control power with food.
It can also be the act of just over eating. Eating more than our bodies need for nourishment and health which leads to being overweight. Eating to feed a deeper need than physical hunger… like emotional eating.
Our relationship with food can become rigid where everything is monitored that is taken in. Food becomes a task master to keep after and keep under a tight rein. It’s thought of constantly.
Or we may be fortunate to have developed a healthy relationship with it naturally on our own, or through our own health journey and arriving there through life experiences.
When we begin to set foods apart, good or bad, putting them in an off limits category, and tell ourselves we can’t have them or that they are bad we start to give food a lot more power than it needs to have.
A part of learning and building new habits is to keep food in a “neutral zone”.
Food is food.
Don’t demonize it or put yourself on some restrictive way of living so all you do is think of those “forbidden” foods.
Do you see the danger of giving certain foods so much power in your life ? It’s designed to keep you from being successful.
Why?
You restrict foods, take them away, label them as bad, or you decide food group “x” isn’t something you are going to eat anymore ’cause that’s the current hyped up trend going on ( not that you have any health issues dictating it) but you’re participating in it.
You really love those foods and will miss them … where do you think your mind will be ?
Exactly.
Smack on the things you’ve set up as “off limits” which will only continue to warp your relationship with food and it’s a dangerous process.
I guess I fall in the camp of figuring out my relationship with food on my journey of health and fitness.
I shared in another blog that I grew up in a family of emotional eaters. I was one too and figured it out as I grew in my understanding of my relationship with food. I’d say I largely have it under control, although there are moments I am aware I’m eating for a reason other than hunger.
I tried many “diets” through my life. Ultimately, all I could wait for was for it to be over and get back to “normal”. ( I see you nodding your head. You know what I mean). Good times.
I’d say THE single biggest factor in my success ( I’m 8 years out now so I think I can address this)
I put nothing “off limits”. Nothing.
You know what that did? It took all power out of anything that may have been forbidden.
I know what you’re thinking…. “Oh, then you probably just went off the wagon all the time”
No. I didn’t. I’m a big girl and certainly have the ability to control what I stuff in my mouth. But it did keep me from over thinking on food.
If my family went to get a burger ( which was an occasional treat) I wanted to enjoy it with them and not sit there forlornly eating a tub of pale iceberg lettuce with two tomatoes in it.
You might think that would send me off the deep end. Like… throw in the towel. Not at all. I continued my commitment to what I was doing. My daily focus on food was to eat well, eat moderate, and allow some treats to be factored in on my weight loss journey.
Now hear me. Although I don’t like to label foods, we can agree that there are some that aren’t the best for our health goals or the best to eat on a frequent basis. I kept that in mind too.
Fried/processed foods, drive thru meals, sugar, alcohol, simple carbs like cookies, cake, chips, candy, sodas, sugar drinks etc. can be tasty treats but must be handled with moderation.
I wasn’t to crazy at all about the idea of giving up chocolate to lose weight! I learned that a small amount, savored, often was enough to satisfy me. I didn’t need to just keep consuming it because it was there.
I don’t think I’m alone in this. The most successful people I know have done it with a non-restrictive balance in their lives.
Do I have trigger foods?
You bet I do. I know that it’s just not a smart move to bring home any type of kettle potato chip unless I’ve got people there eating them with me. 😛
It’s been a learning process.
Learning to trust myself with food. I don’t have to eat it because it’s there or have a “last supper” mentality and consume it all because I may never get it again.
Learning to listen to my body and it’s natural signals.
Learning to not be horribly restrictive to prevent the caving in and eating whatever because I felt deprived.
Learning to make better choices that supported my overall health and fitness goals.
I have learned….
to know my body and what makes me feel good and energetic.
I feel better eating lots of veggies and fruit. I have learned some foods just make me feel more sluggish or bloated and I’d rather pass on them. Lean meats, veggies, and good whole grain carbs keep me energetic and decently lean.
Those foods that used to have a pull on me don’t so much anymore. Healthy eating is natural and comfortable to me now.
I’ve learned to be patient with myself. Some days just might not be that great and it’s ok if I get up and keep going. The “not so great days” though have become less and less as this has become my lifestyle and I’ve built permanent habits.
Forward, slow, steady progress is the best kind of progress. It lasts.
I’ve learned a lot about nutrition. I eat adequate, good food to nourish my body three times a day and I don’t really think about food much anymore… except when my tummy is yelling at me 😉
I’ve learned life is a beautiful journey and it will have birthdays, and holidays and celebrations and food is a big part of those things. Finding balance and being able to enjoy those times is one of the best things about not having “off limits” foods. I have learned I can have my treats and it doesn’t undo all of my hard work. The best part? Not having that self-imposed “guilt” that used to come with it.
I don’t know where you are on your journey of health and fitness. If you struggle with food and are trying to understand your relationship with it, I hope that you at least begin to not cast foods into off limits groups. I hope you give yourself the freedom to eat well, to learn about yourself in the journey, and that you will find perfect balance in your personal relationship with food.
In summary
Know your relationship with food.
Don’t categorize food. Food, is simply, food.
Learn to know your body and listen to it.
Nourish it with healthy foods the majority of time and allow occasional treats.
Trust yourself.
Don’t practice a restrictive lifestyle.
Walk the road you are on. Slow and steady will last a lifetime.
Don’t quit.
Where are you on your journey? Do you feel like you have balance in your relationship with food? Have you set foods up as good or bad and then changed your thinking ? How did that help you?
sassyfitnesschick 