5 Signs You Have an Unhealthy Relationship with Food
Are you exhausted by your endless thoughts about food? Do you consume your day with what you've eaten and what you shouldn't have eaten? Do you restrict your calories all day and then go on a food bender at night? You're not alone. Many of us struggle daily with the daily food battle. We become filled with guilt after binging on "bad foods" only to turn around and repeat it again and again. It's like being on a hamster wheel, and there's no end in sight. Let's see if you have an unhealthy relationship with food and how you can end this terrible cycle.
BINGE EATING
The definition of binge eating is:
The consumption of large quantities of food in a short period of time, typically part of an eating disorder.
Saying you have an actual eating disorder can sound heavy and dark. Most want to shake it off as that this is only for those who starve themselves or purge their food immediately after eating. Yes, those are the two well-known eating disorders, but binge eating is a real disorder. You may be doing it and not realizing that it is a real problem.
I went for years not knowing that this was something that was not normal. I was ashamed of doing it and thought it was a "me" problem. I had no idea many people suffered from this. I figured it was a weakness that I had, that I had no self-control.
I would be so restrictive during the week with my meals. I watched everything I ate, trained hard and was sure to complete all of my cardio sessions. I would be so proud of my weekly accomplishments. Friday night would come along, and out of nowhere, I'd find myself eating an entire pizza. I wouldn't stop there. I'd order dessert. I'd go home and eat chips, ice cream and whatever else was in front of me.
I'd feel sick. I'd be overwhelmed with guilt and shame. Why would I do that after working so hard all week long? I'd wake up Saturday morning and swear that I was never doing that again. However, at any moment, I'd do it again. Monday mornings were endless "I'm starting over again, and I'm sticking with it!". This pattern went on for years.
The problem was that I didn't know I had a problem. I just thought I had no willpower. I'd punish myself, adding more cardio sessions, restrict more calories and mentally beat myself up over and over again.
Can you relate to this? It can be absolute torment. There is a solution, and I will guide you through the steps of overcoming this.
“Breaking from food addiction is not just about losing weight. It’s about opening yourself to life. ”
YOU LOVE FOOD & YOU HATE FOOD
Do you love the thought of eating food and then turn around despising the idea of consuming too many calories? You can't wait to go out to eat. You order your food, consume it, love it and then go home and beat yourself up for eating it. It just doesn't end.
You look to food for comfort, but you also look at food as the mortal enemy. It's a love-hate relationship that you need to break up with once and for all. You don't need to carry this burden with you. Finding a balance that allows you to live again, without calorie consumption endlessly rolling in your thoughts. It can be done, but you need to take baby steps and have patience with the process.
YOUR WEIGHT, IT'S YOUR TOP PRIORITY
When you wake up and head straight to the scale (after peeing, of course) and that number will dictate how you're feeling for the day. If it goes down, you're in a great mood and nothing can stop you today! If it goes up, you're immediately in a terrible mood, and the funk lasts all day.
Allowing the scale to navigate your days is brutal. We all know to stay off the scale, but it can be an actual obsession. We know that the scale isn't an accurate indicator of our bodies, but yet we base how we feel from that little tool.
Listen, that scale will fluctuate daily. You retain fluids; you lose fluids. You gain muscle; you lose muscle. There are many reasons why that scale doesn't reflect the truth of what is happening with your body. Don't give that weight scale so much power. When it gives you numbers you don't like, you'll ultimately sabotage yourself with binge eating.
I've learned to weigh myself once a month. As long as I stay within a few pounds of my weight, I know that I'm doing ok. I no longer allow myself to be on that yo-yo, up and down game that the scale pulls you into playing. Staying off of it keeps me from spiraling out of control and reverting to comfort eating. Try to go one week without weighing yourself and take note of your eating patterns. I think you'll be surprised at how much control you have with your food.
YOU'RE CONSTANTLY ON A DIET
Do you have diets books and follow every person on Instagram that is super thin hoping they will reveal exactly how they got that skinny? You know that you will find a "secret" thing that will ultimately get you to your goal weight? You start a new diet, and you obsess over every morsel you put in your mouth. You get bored or frustrated with it, so on to the new diet plan you just found on the internet. You can't remember the last time you just ate and didn't think about it.
I know you won't like me saying this, but diets don't work. So why do you continue to do this to yourself? Seriously, they don't work. It's been proven over and over again, but yet we still hold out hope that if we could just find that "perfect" diet, we'd be a perfect weight and our lives will be made.
There is no perfect diet, and the only diet that will work is the one that allows you to eat and be happy. But how will you lose weight and eat the food you love? The key to success with your weight is simple. It is finding balance! You have to learn how to eat well and allow yourself to have daily treats without going on the crazy train of binge eating. I know that sounds scary, but if you know that every day, you can treat yourself to something you crave, it takes the restrictions away from you. Restrictive eating is a disaster, and that's what leads us to binge eating and having an unhealthy relationship with food.
IF ONLY YOU COULD REACH YOUR GOAL WEIGHT
Daydreaming of hitting that goal weight is something we all do. When spring hits and you're booking your summer vacation, you go on a frenzy to lose as much weight as possible. You envision yourself laying on the beach, looking nice and lean.
Summer hits and you're nowhere near your goal weight. You're frustrated and disappointed with yourself. Next winter, you're going to work harder so that when summer hits again, you'll be at that goal weight — still, an endless cycle that you continue to repeat.
You're not alone. Do you ever ask yourself why this goal weight is the end all be all? Do you really think it's the answer to all your dreams? Do you believe that happiness is found at the end of a diet?
It feels like it should, especially when you work hard to get to that result. You need to rewire the way you think about your body and your goals. Stop putting so much emphasis on how you'll feel when you get to your goal. You're missing so much on the way there. Break it down to a day at a time. Giving yourself goals for the next six months is too much. A lot can happen in a week, a month and a year. We're human and things come up.
Be proud of yourself daily when you complete a workout. Be proud of yourself when you've eaten well all day. Allow yourself to have a small treat at the end of the day.
Being at your goal weight is fantastic, but how you feel getting it is just as exciting. Celebrate every baby step along the way. Prove to yourself that you can stay on track without the pressure of six months from now. Every step forward is getting you closer to your goals. Pat yourself on the back!
5 Simple Tips to START a Healthy Relationship with Food:
1-Don't crash diet
Start small, swapping out one meal a day with something healthy. Do this for a couple of weeks and then swap out two meals. You don't need to be drastic right off the bat.
2-Up your water intake
Most times when you think you're starving, you're actually dehydrated. Keep water with you at all times and chug water when you start feeling those hunger pangs.
3-Don't restrict food
The second you tell yourself you can't have something, you instantly want it. Allow yourself to have something you crave every day. This will take self-control but once you're aware of the problem, the easier it will be to hold back.
4-Write your goals down nightly
Before going to bed, write down your top three goals on a piece of paper. The first one must be self-care. Writing your goals is setting your intentions. You physically see your goal. Therefore you're more likely to complete it.
5-Be proud of yourself
You don't need to run a marathon to feel like you accomplished something. Going for a walk, working out, drinking a lot of water and getting to bed earlier are something to be proud of. Each one of these is a step in the right direction. Give yourself credit.
There is no straightforward fix for having an unhealthy relationship with food. Patience is a virtue when it comes to getting healthy. Follow these simple tips but do it with baby steps. Don't rush to get to your desired result. Trust that it will happen and the more you slow down and focus, the better your results will be.
If you need help and guidance click below and let's work together to get you on your path to success with losing fat, sculpting your body and gaining the confidence you deserve. You don't need to go on this journey alone, struggling to navigate the path. It's your turn to shine. Do it today!
Hugs & Love,
Aimee
Aimee Schwinabart is the founder of The Purely Fit—online workouts, nutrition, and fitness coaching that actually work! She specializes in short (super effective) daily workouts combined with customized nutrition plans to help real people shed excess fat and reveal toned, lean muscles. The Purely Fit approach to looking and feeling great prioritizes small, steady, super efficient workouts and nutrition upgrades to help you stay with it once and for all!
