The most common New Year’s resolution is losing weight, getting fit, and getting on track with our food and eating habits.
Our relationship with food is complex and often derives from personal insecurities, upbringing and misconceptions. The battle with our weight (our self-conceptions) starts in our teenage years, and it can stay with us all our lives, making us worry about body size, diets and body shape. The struggle can be overwhelming and strike deep. It impacts our physical, emotional and psychological health as well.
To win this battle, we have to build a peaceful food-body-mind relationship.
The signs of a troubled relationship with food
- Obsessive focus on diet
If you start withdrawing from eating out with friends because of the possible food choices on the menu, that’s a good sign that something is not right. This includes meticulously counting calories, obsessing over ‘clean eating,’ and allowing food choices to dictate daily life.
2. Self-worth based on body image
When your self-esteem relies on your appearance, you might experience dissatisfaction with yourself, discounting your achievements.
3. Guilt when eating
Eating can be enjoyable, but some find mealtimes a source of anxiety.
4. Ignoring the signals of the body
When we discount feeling hungry, we cause an imbalance in our perfectly working body, leading to physical and psychological issues.
5. Feeling undeserving
Punishing ourselves for our needs is often rooted in deeper issues of self-worth and body image.
6. Social withdrawal
Avoiding social gatherings due to fear of judgement because of our bodies can lead to isolation and loneliness.
7. Negative self-perception
A negative self-image can adversely impact self-confidence and self-esteem and affect relationships.
8. Dismissing nourishment needs
Lack of nourishment can lead to severe physical and mental issues.
Strategies for building a peaceful food-body relationship
Try to be gentle and compassionate with yourself, take your time and experiment with what works best for you. You can ask for professional support, which makes the experience more enjoyable and social.
- Mindful eating
Mindful eating fosters a deeper connection with food and helps recognise and respect the body’s cues while making the best choices.
2. Listen to your body
Tune into your body and listen to hunger and fullness signals. Don’t feed emotions, but hunger.
3. Body neutrality
Try appreciating your body, no matter what. Start treating it as a temple.
4. Question food rules
Flexibility and moderation in eating habits can lead to a more balanced and less stressful approach to food.
5. Find joy in eating
Try various foods without judgment to transform the eating experience into joy and celebration.
6. Exercise for joy
Physical activities can give you great joy; you must find what works for you.
7. Stop comparing yourself to others
You are unique and perfect as you are.
8. Get off social media
When you are on social media, you automatically compare yourself with others. Have a break whilst trying to get into better shape; comparing yourself constantly won’t help. Focus on your achievements only. After all, it’s your journey.
9. Find support
Instead of the fake world of social media, surround yourself with people who encourage a healthy relationship with food and body. Find support here.
Embarking on the path to a peaceful food-body relationship is a process of relearning and unlearning. It requires embracing a compassionate, mindful approach to eating and body image and letting go of harmful beliefs and behaviours. This journey is not about achieving perfection but about moving towards a place of balance, respect, and peace with food and our bodies, where nourishment comes from what we eat and how we think and feel.
Find support here.
