By Victoria Joanna BBA, CNP, RNCP http://www.victoriajoanna.com/
This may sound strange and even contradictory coming from a nutritionist, but here’s something to consider: The secret to a healthy mind and body is about so much more than food! In fact, there are times when our best intentions can actually create more harm than good.
If you’re like me, or one of the many women I work with, we tend to be a little hard on ourselves. Okay, A LOT hard on ourselves. Perfectionism runs rampant among us, along with that, a good dose of self-judgment, self-criticism and a case of the “not good enough’s”. When we add nutrition to the mix, it’s just another area where we can’t seem to get it together. Whether we are trying to lose weight or simply be healthier, food can bring out our tendency to strive for perfection.
Many of us have gone to extremes with all sorts of weight loss plans. In my case, I’ve tried different diets, dangerous supplements and strict exercise regimes. When I thought I had “figured it out” and moved into a healthier approach, I turned to veganism, detoxification, elimination diets and endless nutritional protocols that involved regimented dietary programs as well as supplements and herbs.
I’m not suggesting these natural approaches aren’t a better option. I myself follow a diet that is mainly dairy and gluten free, low in animal products, and continue to maintain my health by seeing a naturopath and taking supplements regularly.
The challenge is the stress, judgment and negative thought patterns we create when we set our standards too high, and can’t live up to them. This can result in more negative energy and harm within our bodies, than the so-called “bad” foods we eat. Stress has been shown to have more negative affects on our health than almost any other single factor. Our mental state, including how we think and feel about ourselves, affects our physiology. This spills out into our jobs and relationships.
I am not advocating that we all go and eat a Big Mac. I would never suggest that any junk food or fast food is a healthy option, or even a moderately health option. But we need to find a happy medium that works for us, our lifestyle and our priorities. There are definitely strategies and ways to eat healthy and feel great, while prioritizing our family, career and friendships.
If you find yourself continuously changing how you eat; searching for the “right” way to eat; stressing, worrying and feeling badly over not doing it “right”; and constantly planning/prepping/cooking your meals, you may need to stop and re-evaluate if what you’re doing is causing more harm than good. How and what we eat should not be our full-time job (unless maybe it is your full-time job).
Ultimately the decision is ours. Most of us already have a lot on our plates and we do a great job putting pressure on ourselves. It’s my sincere hope that food does not become another source of pressure. Food is supposed to fuel our life, not become our life.
Be wearing of playing the comparison game and feeling we have to live up to an imposed healthy ideal. Not only may what we see not be what it seems, but ultimately, it just may not be right for us.
If you think you may be in this situation, take the challenge of seeing it as an opportunity for growth and learning. Every one of our challenges is meant to teach us something more about ourselves.
Here are some questions to ask yourself:
What is the internal dialogue I have when I am not following the nutrition “rules” I have laid out for myself? What do I say to myself?
How do I feel most of the time when it comes to my diet and nutrition? (am I worrying, planning, restricting, binging, regretting)
Do I ever feel guilty about the food I eat?
Is food another area in my life where I tell myself I’m not good enough
What would happen if I eased up on my “rules”? How would I feel?
What could I focus on if food was not always on my mind?
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