3rd October, 2012
Trust me, when I am out of shape, I don’t smile at the future. I dread the events that lie ahead because I know I don’t look my best. I don’t feel like myself either.
Research shows that an average person gains an average of 3.5kg over the holidays, am I speaking your mind? Does it happen to you? But I guess am not average. I can say am above average because I gained more weight than most.
I hate to admit it, but fat happens. I had fallen off the Body Confidence wagon. Last Christmas I munched seriously on goodies I hadn’t eaten in years. The only exercise I got then was lifting my fork to my mouth. The imbalance showed up around the midline. It became embarrassing to me, but I did not waste time in climbing back into the Body Confidence wagon and worked hard to get back to shape again. And so can you.
Most social events are characterised by assorted foods and delicacies especially in this part of the world. Do you ever feel like food has the upper hand in your life? Does pounded yam call your name from the food stand or fried rice and chips jump into your arms at the parties?
Food is an important part of our lives and has been since day one. Our first cries frequently were cries of hunger. Food became comfort and security for most of us in many situations throughout our lives.
At birthdays and weddings, we celebrate with special cakes and treats. Holidays have food and tradition tied to them. Every event, like wedding, graduation, naming of a new born, religious festivals, or visit to the beach, elicits a craving for the food we associate with that particular experience.
Add to that television, magazines, and all of our friends and acquaintances bombarding us with different food sensations, and we have a never-ending temptation to gorge ourselves with one treat after another.
Coupled with the simple fact that food tastes great, we have a disaster just waiting to happen. Perhaps it already has —in the form of over-expanded fat cells and clothes that just don’t fit like they used to.
However, all forms of overeating do not indicate you have a dangerous relationship with food. Sometimes we simply choose to indulge more than usual. Emotional eating is only a problem when it leads to daily habits you feel you cannot control.
Healthy Eating
Ultimately, what we want and should want is a healthy relationship with food, where we believe that we are in control of our choices . When life is crazy or when you are a little stressed or bored, you sometimes choose to eat for the pure pleasure of it.
Whether you struggle daily or just occasionally with emotional eating issues, this write up will help you develop a healthier relationship with food for the rest of your life.
What Is A Healthy
Relationship With Food?
•Understanding that all days are not exactly the same.
• Being able to eat when you are hungry and continue until you feel comfortably satisfied. But occasionally it is also letting yourself eat a little more than you should, just because you want to.
•Choosing to refrain from some foods because you want to improve your health or feel better.
•Knowing you can have anything you want any time you want it, so you don’t have to have it all right now
•Enjoying and finding pleasure in food. This also means that there are times when other things distract you and you couldn’t care less
•Knowing when enough is enough and finding other coping mechanism in life besides food to help you through tough times.
•Being in control of your food choices, because you know you really are.