I messed up, how to deal with food shame

The past two weeks have been a wee bit tough, I’ve been really busy with work which is excellent, but not been feeling too well which is not so excellent…

As you all know if you follow my Instagram I like to eat healthy and I believe in planning meals in advance, therefore there is always a healthy option.

However, this week hasn’t been very organised. In fact, the busyness, coupled with not feeling great and poor planning has lead to ordering take away.

Twice.

For some people, take away twice a week might be totally normal, at least it’s not every night.

However, when you’re a personal trainer, and you help guide people with their food choices, it’s almost shameful to admit to something like this.

Shhh!

The clean eating trainers would be gloating over this admission of ‘failure’.

And it occurred to me as I was thinking this through that I actively discourage this way of thinking in my clients.

Guilt around food is the first step to food shame and anxiety over eating.

It reminded me that even when you make the decision to eat well and nourish your body, that things still happen that get in the way of that. We’re all human and when this happens it’s easy to beat yourself up and find yourself feeling guilty.

Here are some things to remember…

1. You’re always trying your best. In this example it was take away or not eating as I was too exhausted to cook – which doesn’t usually happen. So I took the best option.

If you find that you’re in a similar situation, give yourself a break and accept that sometimes this happens.

2. Life isn’t perfect and trying to micro manage your diet to make it perfect is exhausting. There are worse things in life than the occasional take away. Seriously.

3. Don’t allow other people to judge you for your food choices. Whether these are perceived or actually experienced, if you eat something that is considered to be on the ‘naughty list’ don’t allow someone else’s views on food to drag you down.

Food doesn’t have morality and you’re not defined by what you eat.

4. If you want something that is on the perceived ‘naughty list’, it’s not the end of the world, or the end of your weight loss if you have it occasionally. If this strategy doesn’t work for you, find a healthier alternative that will allow you to enjoy food without feeling food shame.

So yes, I messed up by failing to plan properly, but we all mess up.

It’s not about being perfect.
It’s not about eating clean 100% and being miserable, or even worse, being smug about it

It’s about being happy
It’s about doing what is best for you at the time
It’s about accepting that and moving on.

We are encouraged to feel guilty around food now,

Sugar is ‘bad’
Some fat is ‘bad’
Take aways are ‘bad’
Carbs are ‘bad…’

And by eating them we are almost inviting shameful looks from the dieting world that is, at the moment, obsessed with clean eating.

But really, this is real life.

We are real people.

And if you meet someone who tells you they never slip up, or never enjoy a lazy moment by treating themselves to a night in with pizza, they are either

A: miserable
B: lying
C: in need of help with food restriction

Either way, they are not the person to listen to.

Aim to fight that food shame whenever you spot it. When you feel the guilt from eating something you perceive to be bad remember that while some food is more nutritious than others and some are better for our bodies, in the right quantities, there is no ‘bad’ food.

Does this mean you should chug a bottle of vegetable oil? No. But a small amount will not kill you.

Ainzlie “gluten free Texas bbq please” McMaster

P.s if you want a life that can include the occasional pizza, get in touch.