Thinking Out Loud #4: Food Remorse

Happy Thursday everyone!! Are we ready for another weekend (almost)?!

I hope you all had an amazing 4th of July, especially filled with lots of fun and lots of good food.
We still have leftovers! 🙂

Speaking of leftovers and good food, it’s time to talk about a topic that I’m sure everyone has experienced at some point after a holiday.

That’s cause Thursdays are for….

TOL

Thinking out loud!

As always, thank you to Amanda of Running With Spoons for allowing me to share my random thoughts on this day! 

 Ahhhhh summer. You make me so happy. Special occasions, holidays, parties….it’s such a good time to relax, spend time with family and friends, and enjoy one another’s company. Also, delicious food and drinks sneak their way into those events, because duh! 😉 From the beginning of summer to Memorial Day to now, you could probably count how many of those parties and celebrations you’ve been to.

Okay, now count how many times you’ve felt guilt or food remorse after those parties end. I think you know what I’m talking about…

The deep feeling of regret one feels after eating a large quantity of food, eating something unhealthy, or just eating in general.

I shouldn’t have eaten that second helping, I feel so fat now!
Ugh, that looks so good but I shouldn’t. I had dessert last night too.
I definitely gained 1,000 pounds after tonight.
I ate SO CLEAN all week, I know I just ruined everything after that.

Sound familiar?? Yeah, that’s how I USED to think after a holiday or indulging at a party. You eat a little more than you normally do and you feel so guilty. You feel like you “ruined everything.”

Truth be told, your weight isn’t determined by a few days of “over-indulging”. Your weight fluctuates throughout the day, every single day! Besides, NO ONE is perfect and there’s NO SUCH THING as a “perfect body.” If we all looked perfect the world would be a pretty boring place.

So How Did This All Start?

The construct of our society and media is all about “the perfect diet”. How many times have you seen infomercials for Nutrisystem or South Beach Diet or waist trainers? Too many to count, right? Instead of promoting balance and occasional indulgences, the media has led us to believe that indulgence is a bad thing. Foods are either labeled “good” or “bad”. We’ve been trained to avoid the “bad” foods and feel guilty when we do end up eating those foods. That’s where the, “I ate so bad today, I feel gross” phrase comes from.

What To Do To About It

Food is your NOURISHMENT, not your NEMESIS – There’s a quote from the movie Ratatouille where Remy’s father tells him that, “food is fuel.” Coming from a rat, he’s so right! If your body is telling you to eat something, then listen! Your body needs a variety of vitamins and minerals to give you energy for what you need to do, and hey, that might even mean a cookie or brownie every now and then. So what? They’re good for your soul! If you constantly avoid certain foods just because you know they’re “not healthy”, you’re only going to end up hating yourself for denying that craving, and maybe even binging because of it. Just enjoy it while it’s there! 🙂
Stop the judgment – Humans eat because we have to SURVIVE, we don’t eat to define who we are as people. Evelyn Tribole, co-author of Intuitive Eating, says, “You are not good or bad based on what you eat. Your values and personhood don’t take a dive just because you ate onion rings.”

Watch the movie “Eat Pray Love.”

No seriously, just do it. Not only is the title of the film a positive mantra for developing a healthy relationship with food, but Julia Roberts’ character also acknowledges her own struggles with food remorse.

My favorite quote…

I’m so tired of saying no, and waking up in the morning and recalling everything I ate the day before – counting every calorie I consumed so I know exactly how much self-loathing to take into the shower. I’m going for it. I have no interest in being obese, I’m just through with the guilt.

Just watch this scene and you’ll know what I mean.

The next time you ever feel guilty for eating something, think about the things I’ve mentioned above. Remember, food is something meant to be ENJOYED. If you ever get to Europe one day, you’ll notice how their food and eating habits are designed around food as PLEASURE and relaxation.

You are NOT defined by what you eat.

When was the last time you heard a friend say, “oh my gosh, I can’t believe you ate THAT. I’m not going to be friends with you anymore.”

Yeah, me either. 😉 So LET THEM EAT CAKE!


Now tell me…

  • When was the last time you felt food remorse?
  • What’s your all-time favorite meal? (If you can narrow it down!)

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