Developing a Healthy Relationship With Food

That's exactly what I'm trying to do. Oddly enough (or perhaps not so...), I've never found it as "easy" to keep things in check since I've voiced out loud that decision of "enjoying it, then getting back to healthier foods without even wondering about it". Sure, I have my highs and lows. Sure, at times I end up over-indulging (did I really need 300g of pizza when 200 would have been way enough?). But I think I'm getting less and less that feeling of 'guilt'. It's just FOOD, after all. It won't buy me happiness nor success in life. If I am to demonize tons of food in my life, it's going to get tough after a while, so I might as well learn to do with it.

(And sometimes, we just don't have much choice, when we're invited, for instance, and really no healthy options are available... I can bring my dog bag of food, but uhm, it's not always very welcome either. I know such situations can't be avoided for the rest of my life, so by getting rid of the guilt, I think I'm better prepared to face them AND get back on my feet immediately after.)

but its so easy to overeat something when you're thinking of the comforts of home!! alas, learning self control over things like this is not only rewarding, its more satisfying than any chocolate fondue i've ever had :D

Zorba ate cherries until he could no longer stand the taste of them.

I don't have much time to comment, (weird hours at work today!) but thank you for posting this. I am recovering from anorexia and bulimia and it really bothers me when people associate food with guilt and morality. (Like saying "bad" food, "sinful" food, etc.) When I would go out to eat and then want to purge, my old boyfriend used to tell me "Nic, it's just food".

Remember, it's just food! Caring for your health is one thing, but don't let it make you crazy.

I often tell myself "At this party, I can have a piece of cake if I want to". Most of the time, I get to the party and decide that I don't really want cake (especially if it's not a very good cake, LOL). I'm not depriving myself because if there really is something awesome at a party, I will eat it. I just am pickier than I used to be. Which is not a bad thing, I suppose. No food is inherently "evil" or "good", but there IS a big difference between a wonderful creme brulee and a half-preserved Twinkie.

I agree with you, Spectra.

I often use the following trick: If I want something (say that piece of cake), I imagine it in my mouth - how it feels, what it tastes like, and the aftertaste. Usually, this is enough to remind myself that it's probably not going to be all that good...

The downside is, if there is something that I have never had, then I'll try it ^_^

Absolutely bang on.

I'd speculate that the single biggest thing that stops people from living a long-term, balanced healthy life is the fact that most of us throw ourselves into our new way of eating waaaaay too puritanically. Life is all about balance - and treats and rewards are a massive part of that.

I get sooo many people emailing and commenting on the blog that they find it too hard to start alkalising and that they can only last 2 days - and the problem is ALWAYS the same - they always go in 110%, cold turkey, change everything at once and try to be perfect.

I think you've hit the nail on the head. We should take it easy, relax, take things one step at a time and - never deprive ourselves!

Have a great day everyone
Ross

Thanks to all of you who said this article really "got it." I re-read it, and re-learned it for myself today!

And that seems to be the key. We have to really keep in mind how we want to approach food. Heck, we have to keep in mind how we want to live our lives...otherwise...we begin to go on autopilot, and then, our lives lack something fundamental...life!

Thanks. Really!

Nice one. Just an hour ago, I said to myself that I will eat a 5 piece maximum of wafers, but I failed to do so and I ate double the amount. I justified by saying that I will be swimming tomorrow.

I strongly agree that it takes discipline to eat our treats in moderation because they usually come in somewhat large amounts. Also, being able to control your cravings can give you a sense of achievement as well.

I don't think that right. I think that there are foods that are bad and foods that are good. When I "cheat" its still with healthy food (usually homemade versions of old favs, like whole wheat pizza with veggies and goat cheese or spicy orange chicken and egg fried brown rice) I want a perfect body though, something that inspires people, because of my jobs as a performer and a food specialist. I think everybody has the capacity to look like gods and godesses, and pretending like you've accept yourself in an unhealthy body is just making the whole confidence issue worse, bc I don't believe thats possible.

The way I tackle my cravings is by making my own treats such as cakes and biscuites. I'm not the best cook so when something comes out well I'm proud of myself. It's this that stops me eating it all in one go. The effort I put into making the treat far out weighs the desire to eat it all at once, instead I like to enjoy what I've made over a longer period. This helps my cooking confidence and also keeps my waist band loose. Also making it yourself means you know exactly what has gone into it.