Read on Twitter
Reminder: your body isn't some clock that magically resets every 24 hours.
That means you don't have to eat vegetables every day or have X grams of protein at each meal in order to be "healthy".
(Another reminder: achieving "health" isn't a prerequisite for dignity/respect)
That means you don't have to eat vegetables every day or have X grams of protein at each meal in order to be "healthy".
(Another reminder: achieving "health" isn't a prerequisite for dignity/respect)
That means you need to stop judging a day (or meal) as "good" or "bad" based upon some arbitrary standard or food/diet rules.
This is a type of binary thinking which sets you up for only 1 of 2 options: success or failure. This leaves no space to engage, reflect, learn or grow.
This is a type of binary thinking which sets you up for only 1 of 2 options: success or failure. This leaves no space to engage, reflect, learn or grow.
Life does not exist in the binary.
When talking about food and bodies, reducing ourselves to such inflexible, black and white terms limits us from growing and changing.
When talking about food and bodies, reducing ourselves to such inflexible, black and white terms limits us from growing and changing.
Binary thinking also causes a disconnect between body and mind.
Instead of listening to your body, you end up reacting to the labels and judgments that are placed up the food (or you).
It also causes guilt and shame, and can lead to self-punishing behaviors (often using food).
Instead of listening to your body, you end up reacting to the labels and judgments that are placed up the food (or you).
It also causes guilt and shame, and can lead to self-punishing behaviors (often using food).
Instead, if you can suspend judgment, and sit with any uneasiness or anxiety that arises, a third element emerges: the grey area.
I know I know, everyone hates the grey area.
But it is here where the most meaningful learning and growing and changing occurs.
I know I know, everyone hates the grey area.
But it is here where the most meaningful learning and growing and changing occurs.
Living in the grey presents each life experience (& eating experience) as an opportunity to learn & experiment, rather than to pass or fail.
The grey area allows for nuance & flexibility to emerge.
You can then make decisions based on body cues instead of external environment.
The grey area allows for nuance & flexibility to emerge.
You can then make decisions based on body cues instead of external environment.
In terms of nutrition, the grey area means zooming out & looking at the bigger picture.
Take a look at your overall eating patterns:
-Are there places where you would like to add in more nourishing foods?
-Or are there times when you want to try to eat a wider variety of foods?
Take a look at your overall eating patterns:
-Are there places where you would like to add in more nourishing foods?
-Or are there times when you want to try to eat a wider variety of foods?
For example, during a stressful period, all that sounded good was quick-digesting carbs and comfort foods - I didn’t touch a vegetable, fruit, or whole-grain for over a week.
When I noticed this, I decided to work on incorporating more vegetables. My intention came from...
When I noticed this, I decided to work on incorporating more vegetables. My intention came from...
...a place of gentle nutrition: “vegetables provide me with fiber and nutrients that my body needs” and "I can eat comfort foods AND veggies".
Compared to a diet mentality place of “oh crap I have to eat more vegetables or else I’m not going to be healthy/skinny/etc.”
Compared to a diet mentality place of “oh crap I have to eat more vegetables or else I’m not going to be healthy/skinny/etc.”
Ok this thread ended up being way longer than planned.
Bottom line: bodies do not need the same amount of nutrients every single day to function. It's ok if you eat more certain days & less others. Your body knows how to balance it out - resist the urge to "control" things.
Bottom line: bodies do not need the same amount of nutrients every single day to function. It's ok if you eat more certain days & less others. Your body knows how to balance it out - resist the urge to "control" things.
