Taking a New Approach to Healthy Eating
Restriction.
This seems to be the word of the year! Not just because of COVID19 lockdown measures to flatten the curve but because as always happens with a New Year, new resolutions; intentions & goals are set.
Losing weight, eating healthy, exercising more (or start exercising) make it to the list for many of us. And what plan of action do we follow to make these resolutions happen? Restriction. Go to the extreme. An all or nothing mindset.
This approach does not work. Not for the long term. A lot of people give up on their resolutions and intentions because of these very reasons.
When it comes to eating, restriction leads to deprivation, which leads to feelings of desperation (aka craving then binges), which lead to feelings of guilt or shame, followed by more restrictions and the vicious cycle goes on and on.
What if we were to approach this differently?
Instead of restricting we ...
add more water, fruits and veggies, movement. Do this as opposed to restricting food groups, obsessively counting calories or going to other extremes. For example: Add a salad or cut-up veggies before dinner, even if you are not ready to change your main course yet.
set up a supportive environment - focusing on the quality of food you stock in your fridge and pantry - as supposed to relying solely on willpower to avoid bad food choices. ”If a food is in your house or possession, either you, someone you love, or someone you marginally tolerate, will eventually eat it.” John Berardi, Precision Nutrition.
Move along the continuum. What would be a bit better? For example: higher-fibre noodles rather than plain white pasta. Aim for progress not perfection.