We’ve all experienced food guilt at one point in our lives. You know that thought you have when you’re about to eat something you know you shouldn’t. Or the moment you realize that you probably shouldn’t be eating at midnight. That’s food guilt. It can be described internal beliefs, usually negative, that people have about food based on society’s idea of fitness and health.
Food guilt can be toxic for your mental and physical wellbeing leading to bigger problems such as eating disorders. It’s important to cultivate a healthy relationship with food in order to live a healthy life. If you feel guilt or shame about your food habits, there are things you can do to overcome them. Here are some tips for fighting food guilt.
- Know Your Physique
Knowing your body type is the first step to having a healthy relationship with food. People with a slow metabolism tend to gain weight easily and struggle to lose it. Similarly, people with a fast metabolism struggle to gain weight. Therefore, your struggle with weight may not be because of what you eat but your metabolism. Once you identify how your metabolism works, you’ll be able to follow a nutrition regimen that works for you. 4 Ways To Redefine Whole Body Positivity
- Let Go Of The Food Rules
Sure, it’s important to eat a balanced diet but you shouldn’t obsess over what you eat all the time. This can make you want to eat unhealthy foods even more since it’s human nature to want to do things we’re not allowed to. When you think of junk or unhealthy food as any other food, you may not crave it as much and you won’t feel food guilt when you eat it.
- Mute Accounts That Trigger You
Social media contributes immensely to body image issues. Studies have found that women who spend more time on social media are more likely to feel less satisfied with their bodies. Therefore, if you’re prone to food guilt, being on social media for long periods can have a negative effect on you. Unfollow or mute accounts that promote superficial or unrealistic standards. This includes photos of perfectly balanced meals. Additionally, try to limit the time you spend on social media to about 30 minutes a day.
- Avoid Food Shaming Yourself
Okay, you’ve eaten a whole box of pizza by yourself and now you’re feeling guilty. Don’t! Just because you eat junk food doesn’t mean you’re unhealthy or you’ll somehow become obese. Some of the world’s best athletes like Boxing champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. admit to being huge fans of junk food. So don’t believe that eating a certain diet makes you fit. Instead, if you’re a junk food lover, try to find ways to burn those calories in order to stay fit.
- Follow The 75/25 Rule
If you can’t avoid unhealthy foods completely, try to eat less of them. This will reduce your food guilt while helping you stay healthy. You can use the 75/25 rule which suggests you eat healthy food 75% of the time then eat junk food 25% of the time. For instance, if you eat 3 meals a day, this means you should eat two healthy meals then have 1 unhealthy meal. Or you can have a cheat day where you eat whatever you want for a day. 5 Tips To Enjoy Healthy Meals In Your Office
- Utilize Positive Affirmations
Beating food guilt is all about changing your mindset. You can start by letting go of the unrealistic standards you may believe about how you should look. Then, remind yourself that you’re beautiful as you are. Write down positive affirmations and place them around your house. Reading them consistently will make you appreciate and love yourself more.
Check out Common Types Of Eating Disorders And Why It Matters
