I was floating around the interwebs the other day checking out recipes and health and fitness type stuff. There were a lot of meme’s with slogans about not warring with food or your body. In my mind I could hear the little voice say, I’m not. All clear here. Which, let’s face it, always makes me suspicious. So I thought about it for a while, am I? Am I at war with food?
Of course I HAVE been. You have heard about it here. A lifetime of disordered eating, rules and diets. Food certainly was not my friend. I loved it and hated it at the same time. It was comfort and support when I felt I had none. It was the reason I hated my body. Food was at fault. Never the unreasonable expectations I put on it for happiness. Food is after all just fuel. But in whatever quantities I deemed it acceptable to partake, it was never right.
Clearly then, food was always wrong.
Wrong, wrong, wrong.
WRONG.
I WAS at war. I feel a lot more comfortable now with it in its rightful place. A battle crops up here and there to remind me to keep my focus. I see diet plans and I lost 20kg in 10 weeks type headlines plastered over magazines and I get ANGRY. Is there any wonder. Is it of great surprise to anyone that so many women are at war at any given time, with food, or bodies, each other. At war with ourselves!
Whole food, reasonable portions, moderation and listening to what your body needs, knowing how to read the signs. Sure I could have been skinnier by now. Faster even. Less time in the gym, more time studying every single thing I put into my mouth. But I want to live a peaceful life. One of harmony and lightness. I gave up fighting with other people and found inspiration in myself. It’s amazing what can happen when you stop pushing up against something.
I’m officially declaring the end of my personal war on food. So if you hear me going a little batty, feel free to mention this post. I’m doing this as a way to be grateful for what I have and to make the choices that are right for me. The end of good foods and bad foods. The end of pressure and guilt. The end of all of that. I don’t need the weight on my shoulders.
War over. Nobody won.
Hi! I’m Suger; Chief Blogger at Suger Coat It. Blogging since 1901; love a casual ootd, taking photos + writing about things that irk or inspire me. I love wine and cheese, long days at the beach and spending time with my family. I make stuff for the internet; photos, create content, write copy and devise social media plans for personal brands, small businesses and bloggers. You know, living the sweet life.
I wish I could go ahead and say this for myself, right now. Don’t think I’m ready yet. I also feel always at war, with food, with how I spend my days. sigh. It gets exhausting!
Find a way, when you get there, you get there. It IS exhausting. So incredibly exhausting.
Good on you honey. War, regardless of the kind, is never good for the soul x
Thank you. Agreed, of course.
I really enjoyed reading this post and found it really inspiring.
I just started following your blog and can’t wait to read even more.
http://www.piece-of-my-mind.blogspot.com
Thank you. Welcome on board. Enjoy yourself. 🙂
Peace has been declared here too Melissa. X
Excellent news. xo
I definitely feel at war with food at times – so I can definitely relate. I try to ignore ads like that and just focus on what my body needs. Best wishes to you 🙂
Thank you Marisa. I think focusing on what your body needs is a great way to live.
Its hard to shake the cycle of “food is reward/food is punishment”. Good on you! Food Mastery: Level 10!
It is, right? It’s not just me then.
Haha. Food Mastery: Level 10! HA.
Things seem so much easier when you are at peace with yourself and your decision! Well done!
Thank you.
The balance of food and joy…hmm it is a hard one. I am about to put some recipes up on my blog and coming here makes me want to make that yummy salad.xx
It is, isn’t it. A challenge for me especially who has always been a little disordered when it comes to food and eating. I look forward to checking out your recipes.
http://mindfullygreen.blogspot.com.au
I don’t feel so much at war with food but at war with myself. The internal dialogue with myself about food is exhausting.
Oh I hear you Faith. That dialogue can be a killer. Absolutely.
I applaud your declaration of peace! I’ve always battled with food. Recently joined Weight Watchers and now eat mostly what I want, after brief negotiations with my inner bad-food-choice girl. It’s been liberating to say the least.
Thank you Sarah, it was what was needed, of course. A declaration of peace. I like that. My favourite part about Weight Watchers is the no good food/bad food thing. It helps to reprogram your head a bit. Good luck to you!
Good stuff Liss. Moderation is key, and you’ll be amazed at how much easier it is when you remove emotional labels to food such as ‘good’ and ‘bad’. Shake off the guilt and pressure hun, it’s way too stressful! xx
Thank you Rhi. It’s an entire brain shift. Something I find it hard to find the words to describe. It IS way too stressful, it is just eating after all.
I am very conscious of my war with food. Food has always been the enemy, me verses it! I am aware that this is my default thought setting and have been trying to break those auto thought processes. It’s a tough one to change, but I am determined to!
Being aware of anything like that is SUCH a powerful step to overcoming it, don’t you think? Less auto-pilot, more conscious action? I think so. So for more, this is nothing but a great sign for what’s ahead for you. xo