If You Overeat Try This (Instead of Regret)
Everybody overeats sometimes, especially over the holidays. Even the most intuitive eater can sometimes eat until uncomfortable.
And for them it’s no big deal.
But for those of us who struggle with food, weight or restrictive dieting, overeating can feel like a crime and a shameful personal failure.
The truth?
Overeating can be a gift - an important fork in the road that offers two very different possible outcomes. One choice leads to the old “I blew it” train wreck of regret. The other can lead to the best thing that ever happened to our food-life.
Wanna know how?
For just a moment, take off the old self-critical diet glasses we grew up with and look with me through the compassionate lens of liberated eating…
We’re learning how to eat and think in a peaceful and balanced way.
We’ve left rigid food-rules behind and are learning to trust our bodies and ourselves.
We’re rewiring the crazy diet/binge pattern and adopting satisfying moderation instead.
I know, I know, moderation might not sound exciting - but it works - and that IS exciting.
As we make this journey, we’re naturally gonna fall back into old ways sometimes – probably a lot at first. And that’s OK!
The truth is:
Relapse is normal and necessary.
In fact, there’s no real learning without it. Taking a curious, non-judgmental look at what just happened is the fastest road to permanent change.
So the next time you eat in a way you’re not happy with, instead of doing the blaming/shaming thing (which usually leads us right back into a messy heart-breaking binge) try this…
Accept it.
Learn from it.
Move on.
Instead of the usual,“OH NOOO!!! I BLEW IT AGAIN!!! What’s wrong with me???” your inner conversation might go something like this:
“Hmmm….now isn’t that interesting?
I ate in a way that doesn’t feel good.
That’s OK. Let me see what I can learn for next time...”
This inner dialogue invites life-giving curiosity instead of condemnation, and life-changing discovery instead of despair.
Shame is a terrible task-master, but self-compassion and acceptance soon have us on the beautiful road to food-freedom, vibrant energy and a comfortable weight.
That’s a lot more fun (and productive) than regret.
*Thank you, Futurity, for the photograph of the disturbing statue on the grounds of the Louvre. I love it!