Sometimes we use food as a way to beat ourselves up, especially when we’re dieting. Food, and our thoughts around food, can be a way for us to punish ourselves and to keep ourselves deprived of what we really want. When we’re dieting, it becomes easy for us to think of food in terms of “good” and “bad,” or “should” and “should not.” We think we “should” eat carrots sticks and celery and cauliflower, or we think we “should not” eat chocolate or potato chips or butter. We think we can’t trust ourselves around food. We think that if we have one potato chip, then we will most certainly eat the whole bag. We think if we have one brownie, then in an hour the whole pan will be gone. We believe that having one spoonful of ice cream will lead to the disappearance of the entire carton.
For the first 45 years of my life, I looked at food as something that controlled me. If food was around and available, I would eat it. And it wouldn’t even really matter what what kind of food it was, or if I even really liked it. I grew up thinking I had no “will power” around food. I grew up thinking that I had no “self control” around food. I grew up thinking that if food was there, I had no choice but to eat it.
In releasing weight through pleasure, one of the most important lessons I’ve learned is that I can give myself permission to eat foods that I enjoy, foods that truly bring me pleasure, to eat foods that taste delicious to me--and still release and maintain weight! I’ve discovered that the more I consider what brings me deep pleasure, the more particular I am in what I put in my mouth. And much to my surprise, not all foods are created equal.
When I began to think in terms of pleasure, when I began to consider questions like “What will bring me the most pleasure?” I began to realize that I really like fresh fruit more than cold pizza. I discovered that I like rich dark chocolate more than candy bars. I realized that a fresh, delicious salad would bring me more pleasure than a bag of Doritos from the vending machine. And I began to eat what I loved. And surprisingly, as I began to eat only foods that tasted exquisitely delicious to me, I began to realize that I, in fact, did have more power over food than I thought. I realized that I, indeed, have many choices, many options, and when I choose the one that will bring the the most pleasure, I’m less likely to find myself bingeing (and then suffering the inevitable guilt).
If you feel powerless around food, if you feel like you have no control and no will power when it comes to what you put in your mouth, here’s a challenge.
For the next seven days, eat only foods that you love and adore.
Don’t compromise. Don’t settle. Don’t give in just because it’s there.
If you’re faced with food that you don’t love and adore, don’t eat it!
Eat only foods that bring you pleasure.
Next up: “Exercise Is Such a Drag!”
