target.fitness • April 14, 2023
We all like our Food...
Food is not “just food.”
Food is part of culture.
Food is part of family.
Food is part of celebrations.
Food is part of religion.
Food is part of tradition.
Food is part of so many aspects of life far outside of simply being “fuel.”
The goal isn’t to eliminate your “emotional relationship” with food, the goal is to not allow your emotions to dictate your actions.
The goal is to be consciously aware of the decisions you make rather than justifying actions you aren’t proud of because of your emotions. So stop looking for a way to suppress or eliminate your emotions.
And, instead, hold yourself to your own highest standard. Quit breaking promises to yourself. Recognize your emotions and, simultaneously, don’t allow your emotions to control you.
Easier said than done, I know... So is everything in life.
But just because it’s easier said than done doesn’t mean it’s not worth doing.
I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again. Some people struggle with self control. They want to lose fat but have difficulty saying “no.” They mentally justify it in saying they’re “flexible dieting.” But flexible dieting doesn’t mean “eat junk and lose fat.” It means “don’t feel guilty for having a treat - but you still have to be wicked consistent to make significant, lasting changes.” For them, practicing self control and saying “no” more often might help them achieve their goal. Other people struggle with food anxiety. They get anxious at the thought of going out to eat at a restaurant because they don’t want to “ruin their progress.” They feel bad for having a slice of cake at their own birthday party. They know it sounds silly and they often give their friends/family/clients amazing nutrition advice that promotes a more flexible approach... but they struggle with it themselves. For them, saying “yes” more often and having a treat might help them achieve their goals. Progress is not only measured in weight loss or fat loss or measurements or numbers or quantifiable data. Progress is also measured in mental, emotional, and behavioral changes. And, candidly, if you don’t improve your mindset first, any physical changes/improvements are going to be short-lived. Because sustainable results only happen with a sustainable mindset.
It’s wild to me that this is even a thing. Often, people message me asking if it’s “ok” to eat fruit because “it has so much sugar 😱.” I get bombarded with messages from “coaches” and “professionals” telling me I’m basically sentencing people to death by encouraging them to eat fruit. What is going on. It’s fruit... Apples and grapes and bananas and oranges and watermelon and strawberries and raspberries and blackberries and blueberries. We’re talking about fruit, people. You’re worried about the “damage” caused by eating FRUIT!? What is going on? No one ever got fat from eating fruit. No one ever became unhealthy from eating fruit. No one ever looked back on their life in their death bed and said “you know...I really should of had less fruit.” No one ever got massively overweight and said, “man...I really think it was the grapes that did it.” Let’s use some common sense. Fruit. Eat it. It’s good for you.
Building a healthy relationship with food doesn’t require you to count calories. And losing fat doesn’t require you to count calories. But. Regardless of whether or not you count your calories your calories always count. Doesn’t matter if you do keto or paleo or intermittent fasting or weight watchers, your calories always count. Also. Just because I say calories are king for fat loss does NOT imply you should eat like an idiot all day, every day (you shouldn’t). Or that calories are the only thing that matter (they aren’t). Or that fat loss is always more important than health (it isn’t). The reason I talk about calories so much is because when you understand how simple (not easy) this fat loss thing really is...the sooner you’ll start to believe you can actually do it. And the sooner you’ll stop looking for the quick fixes and magical potions. And the sooner you start being more aware of what (and how much) you’re putting into your body. So you can get the results you want...while enjoying your favorite foods...without spending every last penny you earn on useless fat burners. That’s why I talk about calorie so much. Not because you need to count them, But so you can achieve your goals as quickly and sustainably as possible without feeling like a prisoner to the latest diet trend.
