Undo the diet mentality
Sydney exercise physiologist and nutritionist Kathleen Alleaume delves into the psychological battle women have with their bodies in her latest book What’s Eating You? Here are her tips on how to form a healthy relationship with food.
Undo the ‘diet’ mentality. Ever notice when you decide to give up a favourite food, it’s the only thing you can think about? Restrictive thinking, such as that found in many popular diets, will lead the way down Struggle Street and almost guarantee defeat. Healthy eating, on the other hand, is about rediscovering the body’s true need for nourishment.
Ditch the ‘all or nothing’ approach. Eating well doesn’t mean you must be a health food freak. A good diet allows for treats occasionally. Yes, that means chocolate and ice-cream.
Food is not the enemy. Refrain from labelling things ‘good’ or ‘bad’ and focus on providing your body with sustaining, nourishing food you enjoy. The key is to learn to manage the intake of your favourite food to maximise the pleasure without overconsumption.
Good nutrition requires planning. Planning ahead removes the inclination to constantly think about food. If you always have something healthy and delicious to look forward to, you’re less likely to pine over something less sensible.
Never ban food. As wacky as this may sound, the best way to avoid eating too much of the foods you know you shouldn’t eat is, ironically enough, to allow yourself to eat them. This is because deprivation always weakens your resolve. Put simply, if you keep telling yourself you are not allowed to eat chocolate, chances are you will devour the entire block. If there is a certain food you love that is not particularly healthy, plan small amounts of it in your meals or snacks. Remember, opt for quality not quantity, and savour every bite.
Don’t let mistakes derail you. Setbacks are bound to happen and are a natural part of the weight loss process. If you let setbacks completely hinder your success, you set yourself up for failure. The key is to reflect on how the setback happened and what you can do in the future to prevent it. Whatever you do – don’t throw in the towel.
Trust yourself. When you fear food, it’s usually not the food you are afraid of but rather your uncontrolled reaction to it. Give yourself permission to eat any foods that you like. Remember, food is not your enemy. It’s all about balance and sensible portions.
The above is an extract from What's Eating You by Kathleen Alleaume, accredited exercise physiologist and nutritionist. To download a free 3 Day eating plan developed by Kathleen, click here
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