Healing your broken relationship with food can seem as challenging as finding a needle in a haystack, especially when you’ve tried everything from kale smoothies to avoiding gluten like it’s an ex from high school. We’ve all been there—eating a whole pizza while binging Netflix and feeling like you’ve committed some kind of culinary crime afterward. Sound familiar? Well, it's 2024 and you’re not alone in this food saga. Let’s dive into how to mend this complicated relationship and enjoy what you eat without the guilt trip.
The journey to healing your relationship with food is not about hopping on another fad diet or detoxing with mysterious green juices that taste like a garden gone wrong. It's about understanding your own needs and striking a balance that feels satisfying yet manageable. Trust me, my pantry is filled with half-eaten bags of organic quinoa and superfood snacks that promised a life-changing experience. Spoiler: they didn’t. Instead, they made me realize that finding a sustainable way to eat and feel good is about more than just following the latest trend.
One of the essential steps you’ll find in our "Identifying Emotional Eating Triggers" section is figuring out why you’re reaching for that double chocolate chip cookie at 2 AM. Is it because you’re actually hungry, or do you need a hug, a nap, or just something to distract you from the stress of an upcoming deadline? Pinpointing these triggers is like unveiling the plot twist in your favorite novel—unexpected but incredibly enlightening.
Another game-changer is learning to enjoy food without the guilt. You can read all about it in our "Enjoying Food Without Guilt" chapter. Trust me, life is too short to be feeling bad about enjoying a piece of cake. The key is to shift your mindset from restriction to moderation. I've spent nights agonizing over whether that second slice of pizza was worth the “caloric damage,” only to realize that it’s all about balance. Spoiler alert: it was worth it and the world didn’t end.
While we're reworking our relationship with food, let's not forget the importance of physical activity. The section on "Incorporating Physical Activity" delves into finding a workout routine that doesn't feel like punishment for eating an extra scoop of ice cream.
Lastly, the 2024 motto: be kind to yourself. Healing your relationship with food is a process, and it involves a fair bit of trial and error. If you find yourself back in the kitchen at midnight snacking on a leftover burrito, don’t sweat it. It’s all part of the journey to a healthier, happier you.
Snapshot Survey
Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Please subscribe for your personalized newsletter:
1. Look at Your past
One of the hardest ways to heal your broken relationship with food is to take a look at your past. This can be painful, but it’s necessary to learning how your issues started. Many of us develop beliefs around food, dieting, calories, weight issues, etc. at a very early age from reasons we don’t even realize. Mine started when I suffered sexual abuse as a child and learned to hate my body and what it reminded me of. Later, I learned to use a lack of food to cope, or eating to cope with the loss of my Dad. Taking a look at your past when your food issues started can be exactly what you need to change the cycle. When you become aware of how food issues started in your life, you can begin to change them.
2. Clear the Clutter
When I speak about clutter here, I’m referring to mind clutter. You know what I mean, right? All the dieting “dos” and “don’ts” we hear so much about in the media. One week, we’re told one thing works, and another week it’s something different. This constant “clutter” as I call it only confuses you further. For one year solid, I quit reading all women’s magazines that had any advice about dieting, which was hard for me to do because I love magazines dearly! I also quit reading food blogs, and quit looking at any diet books. It was hard being a recent graduate of nutrition, but it did wonders for me. I learned to eat intuitively again, not based on someone’s opinion in an article I read. You’ll be surprised how this one change makes a difference.
Frequently asked questions
3. Forgive Yourself
If this sounds silly, hear me out! Forgive yourself for every single negative thing you’ve ever done with food, or how you’ve used it in your life. Forgive yourself for not taking care of your body. Did you know that most people binge or starve out of guilt for their relationship with food? They’re so mad at themselves, they keep punishing themselves through the same way over and over again - with or without food. Stop the madness right now, and just forgive yourself. Trust me - it does work, and as long as you keep that forgiveness in the forefront of your mind, you can now learn to eat to nourish yourself, not numb yourself with food.
4. Take a Walk
I learned to quit exercising to burn calories, and started taking walks outside in nature more often. I found it was one of the most healing ways for me to actively move my body without a focus on calories burned, time spent, etc. I also used no iPod of other form of music. I used that quiet time in nature as a way to reflect on my feelings and my life, and it has been one of the most healing things I’ve ever done and would suggest you try too.
5. Cook for Yourself
No more eating out, or ordering in! Learn to cook for yourself and do it out of self care. This is one way I learned to heal my relationship with dieting. Preparing healthy meals for yourself is a form of self care, and eating those meals is much more rewarding. You’re more likely to finish your meal, and be able to stop when you’re done when you prepare it yourself. Stop eating out of boxes, bags, and take-out containers. Cook for yourself and you’ll see a big change right away. If possible, don’t eat in front of a TV or computer screen either. Pay attention to your meal, and if it’s nice weather, eat outside! A meal in the sunshine is so calming and a great way to destress.
Related Videos about
6. Write It out
Sometimes we don’t always know why we feel a certain way about food or dieting, but writing it all out can help. Write out whatever you want when it comes to how you feel about food, what you fear, bad habits, etc. No food journals! Just write out your feelings. It can be a great way to gain insight on some issues you might not have been able to realize yet.
7. Start New
The best way to heal a broken relationship with food is to start new, right where you are. No looking back, just forwards. I know that’s more difficult than it sounds, but you can’t change the past, so why try? Embrace new ideas, debunk old myths, and just start afresh. Each day is a gift not worth spent regretting and rehashing old events.
I hope you know that I understand these tips probably seem pretty tough. I also know they aren’t something you can do overnight. But are they effective? You betcha! If you have a broken relationship with food and have learned to heal that part of your life, what did you do?
Source: soulfulspoon.com
Feedback Junction
Where Thoughts and Opinions Converge