If you've ever set a goal for to eat better in an effort to lose weight and "get healthy" then chances are you’ve followed some sort of diet at some point. In fact, the average woman will do 126 diets in her lifetime. That's a whole lot of deprivation, restriction and misery.
My question is, how's that working for you?
If you’ve ever struggled with start and stop dieting, over-eating, emotional eating or any other type of food relationship, then I want to encourage you to try a new approach – eating for nourishment.
There is a difference between eating for weight loss and nourishing your body with food.
The problem with dieting. With all its food rules, strict meal plans and restrictive measures, food quickly becomes complicated. Which leads you to mistrust your body’s hunger cues and rely on someone else’s guidelines for "eating better" (aka dieting). And after a while, a strange thing happens. You find yourself obsessing over your food choices, your weight, calories, carbs, etc. In fact, food quickly becomes ALL you think about.
Nourishing, on the other hand, is a whole different concept. Nourishing comes from a place of self-love and acceptance, with a focus on enriching and empowering your body and mind. Its purpose is to develop a positive and compassionate relationship between food, your body, and your mind.
Merriam Webster defines nourish as: to provide with the food or other substances necessary for growth, health, and good condition.
How do you know if you're food patterns center around Dieting or Nourishing?
Dieting
Focuses on weight and appearance
Relies on "good" and "bad" food lists
Teaches low calories = better
Asks you to eat at specific times or according to certain rules
Creates feelings of doubt, fear and shame around certain foods
Nourishing
Focuses on how your body feels
Includes a variety of foods without rigid rules
Emphasizes calorie awareness as energy gained through food
Recognizes your body's hunger and fullness cues
Fosters a healthier food balance of pleasure and health
When you stop dieting and start nourishing your body, you'll find you...
Have more energy. Balanced food habits that emphasize nutrient dense foods help regulate blood sugar and keep cravings from spiking, so you aren't fighting lacking energy and feeling hungry all-the-time.
Reduce risk of disease. Foods from the rainbow, like fruits and vegetables, are loaded with essential vitamins and minerals that we know reduce risk of heart disease, stroke, and high blood pressure. When you eat more nourishing foods that grow from the earth, you’ll also be getting more key nutrients and antioxidants your body needs to strengthen immunity and keep you healthy.
Better sleep. Researchers have tied nourishing foods like dark leafy greens, whole grains and fish to better quality sleep. Bottom line: people who eat better tend to sleep better.
Improved mental health. An increased intake of B-vitamins have been shown to boost dopamine production and increase feelings of happiness. And foods like salmon, fish, walnuts, chia seeds and spinach provide a healthy dose of Omega-3's which combat moodiness and depression.
The big difference between "dieting" and nourishing your body really comes down to your relationship with food and your body. It might sound woo-woo, but think about it, are you approaching your body with love, compassion and acceptance, or are you punishing it through deprivation and restriction, using guilt and shame to motivate yourself "healthy"?
Maybe you think you can't possibly focus on nourishment, using a less rigid and restrictive approach to achieve your health, wellness and weight loss goals, but consider this, what if nourishing your body with nutrient dense foods while sprinkling in a bit of fun allowed you the freedom and flexibility to be consistent with your food habits, enjoy your life, and work toward your goals too?
My guess is that balance would feel a whole heck of a lot better than being stuck in a cycle of start and stop dieting, where you're either doing "good" or "bad" and always worrying about the wheels falling off.
Though you can absolutely start doing this on your own, if you are like most of the women I coach, you do better with guidance and support. That's normal. Especially when you're trying to replace not-so-healthy habits with healthier ones. Giving yourself a sounding board, a safe space to voice your concerns, and the ability to get feedback in real time is powerful.
Real Talk: you will not become your healthiest, happiest self by dieting your life away, stressing out about what, when and how to eat, and worrying about food and your body all the darn time. That's quite simply NOT living.
I understand how challenging it can feel to make a change. I know how scary it can feel to let go of the diet rules, even when they're not helping you. And I get how strange it can feel to trust your own body to tell you what you need. Yet we were all born with an onboard system that tells us when we're hungry and when we've had enough, what foods make us feel good (energized, satiated, fulfilled, etc.) and what food leave us feeling like crap (bloated, lethargic, spike cravings, etc.) We just stopped listening.
So now what?
I'm not going to lie, after years of listening to diet culture's messaging, food often feels complicated and confusing. And yes, eating healthier and not turning to food to solve a bad day, disappointments, or frustrations can feel hard. But so does staying stuck in a cycle of start and stop dieting, beating yourself up for not being "perfect" and riding the diet roller coaster for years in an effort "get healthy".
Look, I get it, the idea of changing your approach to food, your health and your weight loss can feel scary. But you know what's even scarier? Dieting your life away. It's okay to let go of the food rules, calorie restriction, and measures of progress that aren't serving you. You can do it. And you're worth it.
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