You, yourself + your food
Story time from our owner, Zan.
I spent most of my late teens and early 20s hating my body and feeling guilty about everything that I ate. I was at war with myself. A war that I started, and that only I could end. My body never responded the way I wanted it to. I’d work out, nothing happened. I’d go on an extreme diet for as long as I could stand, then end up back to where I started or worse.
The stress of being at war with myself deeply impacted my mind and body. In retrospect, how could I have expected my body to give me what I wanted, when I refused to give it what it needed?
What I learned when I was obtaining my masters in psychology, is that our minds and bodies feed off of each other. Negative thoughts and self doubt put our bodies under constant tension. You are a product of both your thoughts and environment. Your are also the only one who is in complete control of these factors.
To truly succeed on this program, and for the rest our lives, we need to rewire our relationships with ourselves and with our food. This will not happen overnight, but we can start small.
Here are a few things to keep in mind on your journey.
1. stop with the all or nothing mentality
Dieting comes with an all or nothing mentality. You're either on, or you're off. We need to change this mindset. This program and your life need to be about balance. Most of us think "well I ate already ate that donut, so the day is ruined." This usually turns into a series of bad decisions. One bad day can turn into a bad week, and so on. The one donut itself isn’t the problem, its all the things that come after it that mess with your body, mind & long term success
Dwelling on what you ate and punishing yourself for it will only cause stress in the body. Likewise, dwelling on something you didn’t eat can be equally detrimental. Stress will not suit you or your health. The best thing to do after an overindulgence is to just move on. Continue your day, fuel yourself with nutritious food and move your body.
2. think about your food choices
We usually grab something on the go without even thinking about where it came from or how it will make us feel. Eat to fuel yourself.Really think about what you’re about to buy and put into your body. Does it align with your goals or is it going to leave you feeling crappy?
Let go of the thought that if you've been "really good" you deserve to be "really bad." No food is good and no food is bad. Too much of anything is bad, even broccoli.
Food is not your only option for self soothing (ie: if you had a bad day, you deserve a bottle of wine.) Food should be used to nourish the mind, body & soul. It is not a reward or a punishment.
3. enjoy your food
Take your time with your food. Look at it, taste it, breath in between bites. Is it colorful, beautiful, crunchy, salty? Acknowledge the different textures in each bite. Appreciate how delicious it is (or isn't.)
MindBodyGreen says "Do not cloud your eating experience with negative thoughts like, "I should not be eating this” or "I'm a failure that I couldn't control what I ate.” Your body will manifest those thoughts into bodily stress. Hello, cortisol! Goodbye to optimal digestion. Please, be at peace with your plate."
4. step up to your plate in a positive mindset
If you’re someone who always questions what you eat, redirect the conversation inside. Your thoughts can change the way you see your food and your body. Say things like:
“This plate of food is going to give me so many nutrients and so much energy”
“My body is going to be so happy about eating all of this goodness”
5. let go of the need to be and eat perfectly
No one eats perfectly. Using macronutrients as daily targets allow us to fuel our bodies through making smarter decisions. If you like to go on a pizza date every Friday night, that’s ok. Work that ritual into your macros. Don’t overthink it!
6. stop looking at everyone else’s progress pictures
This is your body, your journey, your life. It’s going to look and feel different than someone else’s. Stop comparing yourself to others, look at what you can do for you.
7. you are not a victim when eating out
It's important not to let your “healthy lifestyle” get in the way of your social life. What I mean by this is, if you're out with family and friends, simply choose the best available option to you. Avoid over-complicating the situation, making something enjoyable feel difficult or stressful. This will likely foster an unhealthy relationship with food and being social. Do the best you can, under those circumstances.
8. pay attention to cravings when you’re not hungry
If you're grabbing for food when you’re not hungry, there is likely something else going on. Maybe you’re feeling emotional, lonely, angry, happy, bored. Food is fuel. If you realize you're not actually hungry, identify why you are reaching food and choose another option to deal with that emotion. This is easier said than done.
Go for a long walk, take a bath, paint your nails, be intimate with your partner, make a cup of tea, call your best friend to chat, peruse instagram for healthy recipes, or go back and read your goals! Anything to keep you from snacking unnecessarily
9. your body doesn’t hold grudges, you do
Remember, if you start treating your mind and body right, it will gladly respond and return the favor. Your body doesn’t hold grudges, it’s ready and waiting for you to initiate the change!
Just one more step and you’re ready to fly free!