In todays world we are inundated with food, health, nutrition news/trends (what I like to refer to as ‘noise’) and its no wonder we are left feeling confused. This is not to mention overwhelmed when it comes to what advice to follow!
If in recovery from an eating disorder or struggling with your relationship with food and body image generally, food and diet noise can be incredibly troublesome. Worry over food and diet noise is like being a tennis ball - what we hear goes back and forth, back and forth in our mind as we try to follow all of it, at the same time! When we don’t see ‘results’ or feel better we move on to the next piece of advice/trend hoping something sticks, soon!
I don’t know about you, but I believe this is definitely no way to live and certainty does no benefit to fostering a healthy relationship with food.
So how do we cancel out the noise?
Well…
Have you ever felt so strongly about something that no matter what else you heard, you did not budge and deep down knew you were on the right path? Feels good doesn’t it? No agonising thoughts back and forth over whether you should change how you feel and worried you were in fact wrong. You were very likely to be following your values so why not apply it to food? Have strong values around what your relationship with food should look and feel like. We are our happiest and strongest when living according to values.
Please explain....
Let use ‘fun’ as the example – you value that food is a fun part of life.
When you hear about a new ‘trend’ suggesting lunch should be the first meal of the day, you ask yourself - would that be fun? If you are someone who looks forward to an early breakfast each day, then HELL NO! Not to mention, not being able to go out for breakfast with friends. You then and there know this food trend does not fit your values and therefore you need not think about it anymore and move on.
Another example using ‘self-respect’ as the value – your friends are doing vegan till 5 (ie eat a vegan based diet until 5pm) you think you should follow along because you want to be ‘healthy’ too – however, you have tried eating vegan before and know you get a ravenous appetite and your energy takes a dip. Let me tell you loud and clear, not feeding your body what it needs is the complete opposite of self-respect! You therefore instantly know vegan till 5 is not for you and you need not worry about what your friends are doing. What may suit them, does not suit you!
As you can see, following your values when it comes to food is a powerful way to cancel out food and diet noise and give you confidence to live your life according to what you want and need! It can take a bit of practice in the beginning and learning to trust yourself, but the pay off is well worth it in the end!
Casey Dick | Passionate Dedicated Natural Nutritionist | Brisbane, Australia, Dietary Nutritionist, Healthy Body and Mind Advocate, Natural Hormone Balance & Healthy Weight Loss, Natural Skin Health, Anorexia, Binge Eating Disorder, Eating Disorder Recovery, Orthorexia, Thyroid, Non-dieting Approach, Gut Health, Nutritionist specialises in PCOS, Why can’t I lose weight, Weight Loss Resistance