SubscribeDeveloping a Healthy Relationship With Food
Nothing takes away the pleasure of food, quicker than the feeling of guilt. Guilt is the “buzz-kill” of all disobedient activity.
But what if the feelings of guilt could be eliminated? What if consumption of your favorite food was no longer an act of disobedience?
It can become dangerous if we stop allowing ourselves to eat our favorite sweet treats. It can become dangerous if we covet Italian bread and we only allow ourselves the extra wholesome wheat bread, every single time.
Moderation and Being Mindful
We can learn to indulge in the taste of our food, and consciously enjoy each bite. In moderation, we can enjoy the food we love.
When we deprive ourselves of the food we crave, there is a big emphasis on the forbidden. It’s a slippery slope. On the other hand, if we allow ourselves to consume a “delicate” portion of that which we crave the most, we can learn to enjoy that food without making it something it’s not.
Enjoy your food, and then you move on.
It’s not the forbidden, it’s not something you need to feel guilty about, and it’s not the emotional turn-to food.
Developing a healthy relationship with the food you crave takes some discipline and dedication to moderation.
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.)
Replybut 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
ReplyZorba ate cherries until he could no longer stand the taste of them.
ReplyI 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.
ReplyI 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.
ReplyI 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 ^_^
ReplyAbsolutely 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
ReplyRoss
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!
ReplyNice 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.
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