Distorted eating is becoming more and more rampant. With more information readily available to us it can also be a curse. There are more diets to follow and we’re becoming more confused as to what really works. From my experience, we need to focus away from food but on doing what makes us happy. The more we focus on something, the more energy we give it and if we’re struggling, you’ll only struggle more.
My objective here it so share what has helped me break away from dieting habits.
Another diet is not the answer
Diets involve restricting or limiting foods. This only adds fuel to your distorted eating habits. No more googling the best diet. The solution is not another diet.
Stop trying to be perfect
I was once told that perfectionist are more likely to develop disordered eating habits. I can see how this is true. Trying to be perfect sets you up to fail. And once you fail, it can often lead to a big fall out of over eating. This all or nothing approach leads to more havoc in the body. Ditch trying to be perfect. There can be a balance. Striving for perfection often leads to no progress at all.
Forget cheat days
I hate this term. Eating well all week, then having a cheat night Saturday night where you go all out and eat everything in sight it not healthy. It’s a crazy concept to me. If you are ordinary person, striving to be healthy, not an athlete, there is no reason for them.
I remember for a while I tried the cheat night thing. Saturday night would come along and I’d often not even feel like ‘cheating’. But because you know it is your last chance for another week to eat a ‘forbidden’ food, you eat crap anyway. It’s crazy!!! We must listen to our bodies and eat a ‘cheat’ when we really crave it. Not because it is a certain day.
Forget Rules and labeling your eating behaviors
Use common sense. That is the diet you are on. You don’t need to call it gluten free, paelo, clean eating, or whatever. Eat real foods most of the time. Don’t eliminate foods. When we eliminate foods we feel guilty when we do have them or over eat on them when we do. Use your common sense, eat well most of the time and you’ll be okay.
Enjoy food
Life is too short to be eating stuff you don’t even like. Don’t eat kale just because it is a superfood. Don’t eat chicken and brocolli for dinner because that is good for you. Eat something because you like it. I’m not saying eat chocolate and cakes because you like it for lunch and dinner. Again, use common sense. But forget what everyone else is doing. If they want to eat out of tupperware containers and eat the same thing each week, so be it. Focus on you and find healthy foods you like. Then you won’t have to take a break from the diet or ‘cheat’ or ‘refeed’.
Focus on the journey, not the outcome
Get off the scales. Stop stressing over your weight. Enjoy each day as it comes. Enjoy the food, eat slowly. Move every day. Make each day amazing. If you’re unhappy on your weight loss journey, you’ll never get to the end result. Or at least you won’t keep the weight off. The truly happier you are day to day, the better your weight will be and the more in sync your body and mind will be wanting healthy foods and activity.
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