I think it’s safe to say we’ve all had those moments where we’ve found snacks that are hard to say “no” to and before we know it, half the bowl is gone. Occasionally, we feel ashamed we allowed ourselves to indulge. Though I am better at dealing with it now, I still feel these feelings from time to time. With that, I want to share 3 things to remember when you feel food guilt that have helped me.
3 things to remember when you feel food guilt
- That overly-full feeling is temporary
Yes, it’s uncomfortable eating more than you’re used to or eating foods you’re not used to. In the moment, it may seem like that full feeling will never go away. But, trust me: it will. Your body needs to digest food, doesn’t it? Eventually your body will either process it or eliminate it. That full feeling won’t last forever. Let nature and biology do its thing and you’ll feel more normal in a day or so.
- Your body will self-regulate
After lots of food, you may notice your weight has gone up. I can understand why it would cause someone to freak out. I’ve felt that way myself; my anxiety creeps up and it’s all I can think about. But if you give your body a couple of days of what it’s used to, you’ll find that your body will settle back to how it was.
A scale weighs your entire body: fat, muscle, bones, water, and yes, the food you consumed. It fluctuates for a number of reasons: undigested food, you retained more water because of higher sodium foods, you hadn’t gone to the bathroom yet, etc.
But if you give yourself some time and go back to your usual habits, you’ll see your body will eventually come back to your maintenance.
- You’re only human
Remember, at the end of the day, you’re a human being. Give yourself grace when things don’t pan out the way you wanted them to. Indulging in your favorite snack a bit more than normal will not be the end of the world and it will not mean all the work you’ve put into your fitness and health was for nothing.
I like to remind myself that “it is what it is”. Meaning, it happened, it’s in the past, I can’t do anything about it now, and all I can do is move forward. My food guilt usually comes up in social settings where there’s lots to nibble on. I remind myself that I may have eaten more than I intended to but a) it doesn’t happen often, b) I was making memories with friends, and c) overall, I enjoyed myself. That’s more important to me than anything else.
Final Thoughts
Food is fuel but it’s also more than that. Food is nostalgia, memories, a way to bond with others, and an experience. If feelings of guilt creep up, know that it will pass and you will feel like you again soon. Understand that sometimes things don’t go according to plan, no matter what they are. And when they don’t, accept it, and know that you will be ok at the end of the day.
If you’re feeling any shame, I challenge you to say one kind thing to yourself and post it in the comments below!