My husband and I had a realization last night as we tried to decide what we wanted to do for dinner. In the past a Saturday night dinner decision was based off of what we were craving and what was too inconvenient for us to have on a weeknight. We also had our “cheat” mentality in high gear and because it was the weekend, we could splurge with a few extra calories. What was interesting last night was that there was no craving and all of our normal “cheat” meals didn’t seem appealing. Through our discussion we both realized that our relationship with food had changed. A meal is no longer something that we do because we are having a craving or because it’s a certain time of the day. A meal is now a part of fueling our bodies to achieve our goals of feeling great and looking good!
I’m not going to sit here and say that there aren’t days that I indulge in a slice of pizza or split some tasty nachos with my hubby, because we most certainly do! However, I have noticed that the past few times that I have, the usual satisfaction that came with the indulgence wasn’t there. Instead it was replaced with a feeling of, “that wasn’t as good as I thought it would be.” Our relationship has changed.
I know that when I first started my health and fitness journey I looked to mentors to encourage me to eat right consistently, to find recipes that could replace my usual cravings, to see what success could look like if I just stuck with my plan. They seemed like super heroes, people who could resist the temptation of French fries, birthday cake, and sodas. There was no way I would be able to give those up without feeling like I was depriving myself of something! I have now realized that when your relationship changes, so do the temptations. Those people aren’t resisting the urge, they simply didn’t have the constant urge!
So, how has my relationship with food changed? I’ve shifted from the person I described above to someone who now looks at food as fuel and can reflect on the feeling I will have if I give in to those temptations. Not the guilty feelings, but the physical feelings. My lack of energy, feeling bloated, headaches. These are now the feelings that I associate with over-eating foods that I know don’t fit into my clean eating habits. Those feelings don’t tempt me, instead that urge me to reach for a salad or a bowl of soup instead of fried chicken or pasta.
How did this happen? When did this happen? This was not a conscious effort of mine. Yes, I wanted to make choices that helped me live a healthy lifestyle and allow me to achieve specific fitness goals but I never told myself I was giving up junk food. Quite the contrary, Brian and I always stuck to our 80-20 rule: 80% clean, 20% cheat. I knew telling myself I couldn’t have something would only make me desire it even more! However, somewhere along this journey my mental relationship with food has shifted to a place where I crave the feeling of being satisfied, energetic, and proud of the reflection in the mirror.
My point in sharing this with you is that this didn’t happen overnight and it didn’t happen intentionally. When you choose to make a lifestyle change, it is never easy. You are going to want to slide back into your previous habits. You are going to get discouraged when you don’t see immediate results. But the process works. I promise! Your daily choices will get easier. Your efforts will start to show results. You will start to transform yourself into a person that you love and cherish! Your relationship with food will change to one that will help you achieve your goals and help others see the potential in themselves!
If you know someone who is struggling with their relationship with food, please share this post with them. Let them know that food doesn’t have to be the enemy and that the process, while slow, is effective. If you are struggling with your relationship with food and want to learn how to make the shift, let me become your personal coach for free! I can show you how programs like the 21 Day Fix can help you with portion control and balanced nutrition. I can work with you to create recipes and meals that give you the flavor and satisfaction that you desire – all while changing your body into one that you love!!
I’m not going to sit here and say that there aren’t days that I indulge in a slice of pizza or split some tasty nachos with my hubby, because we most certainly do! However, I have noticed that the past few times that I have, the usual satisfaction that came with the indulgence wasn’t there. Instead it was replaced with a feeling of, “that wasn’t as good as I thought it would be.” Our relationship has changed.
I know that when I first started my health and fitness journey I looked to mentors to encourage me to eat right consistently, to find recipes that could replace my usual cravings, to see what success could look like if I just stuck with my plan. They seemed like super heroes, people who could resist the temptation of French fries, birthday cake, and sodas. There was no way I would be able to give those up without feeling like I was depriving myself of something! I have now realized that when your relationship changes, so do the temptations. Those people aren’t resisting the urge, they simply didn’t have the constant urge!
So, how has my relationship with food changed? I’ve shifted from the person I described above to someone who now looks at food as fuel and can reflect on the feeling I will have if I give in to those temptations. Not the guilty feelings, but the physical feelings. My lack of energy, feeling bloated, headaches. These are now the feelings that I associate with over-eating foods that I know don’t fit into my clean eating habits. Those feelings don’t tempt me, instead that urge me to reach for a salad or a bowl of soup instead of fried chicken or pasta.
How did this happen? When did this happen? This was not a conscious effort of mine. Yes, I wanted to make choices that helped me live a healthy lifestyle and allow me to achieve specific fitness goals but I never told myself I was giving up junk food. Quite the contrary, Brian and I always stuck to our 80-20 rule: 80% clean, 20% cheat. I knew telling myself I couldn’t have something would only make me desire it even more! However, somewhere along this journey my mental relationship with food has shifted to a place where I crave the feeling of being satisfied, energetic, and proud of the reflection in the mirror.
My point in sharing this with you is that this didn’t happen overnight and it didn’t happen intentionally. When you choose to make a lifestyle change, it is never easy. You are going to want to slide back into your previous habits. You are going to get discouraged when you don’t see immediate results. But the process works. I promise! Your daily choices will get easier. Your efforts will start to show results. You will start to transform yourself into a person that you love and cherish! Your relationship with food will change to one that will help you achieve your goals and help others see the potential in themselves!
If you know someone who is struggling with their relationship with food, please share this post with them. Let them know that food doesn’t have to be the enemy and that the process, while slow, is effective. If you are struggling with your relationship with food and want to learn how to make the shift, let me become your personal coach for free! I can show you how programs like the 21 Day Fix can help you with portion control and balanced nutrition. I can work with you to create recipes and meals that give you the flavor and satisfaction that you desire – all while changing your body into one that you love!!