Ditch the food guilt

In the current time of the world we're in the middle of a pandemic and 7ish weeks into lockdown, if you haven't already right now might be a time where you're feeling guilty for reaching for the extra snacks. I want you to know that this is not your fault, it doesn't make you a bad person or a "greedy pig" you see emotions are running hight a the moment and if you are using food as a coping mechanism that's okay...

To be able to cope in challenging situations we use different mechanisms to pull us through, for a lot of us one of those things will be raiding the fridge and the cupboards. Of course there are serious sides to this, including eating disorders, extreme mental health situations, addictions, etc. but for those of us who are just snacking more, then going to emotionally abusing and black mail yourself by threatening to do a half marathon the next day to burn off the 'unnecessary' calories is not helpful.

I caught myself feeling really hungry just a few hours before dinner the other day, I stuffed my face with bread and butter, carrots, apple, crisps and cheese. I thought to myself "Why am I so hungry today?" Then I realised that I had been for a long walk with the family and taught a Burlexercise class with body confidence class for my membership group. I was forgetting that the more active you are and the calories you burn, the more you need to eat! 

Even if you're not active and you feel as if you're going to leave lockdown with a few added lbs that's okay, there are so many worse things you could be doing as a coping mechanism. Next time you start to feel guilty for the food that you're eating instead of saying horrible things to yourself, try asking this instead...

"Why am I eating? Am I hungry for food or for comfort?"
If the answer is comfort then ask...
"Why do I need comfort? What am I feeling emotionally?"

Whichever the answer is, still listen to your queues eat when you feel like it but keep asking the questions, the more we face our mental wellbeing, the more likely we are to reach out and find help, to deal with how we are feeling rather than hiding away and the less we will find ourselves swallowing our feelings.

Check out the latest episode of the podcast where I share an insight into intuitive eating. Also we have a special zoom call tonight at 8pm to discuss why dieting is actually bad for your mental and physical health, if you'd like to find out more information, pop me a message and we can chat.

In this time of our lives, I truly hope that you are surviving, please open up if you're struggling and if you can't to your friends and family, there are people at the end of a phone line waiting to help you, PANDAS, Smaritians, Crisis, Mind and lots of other charities too. Stay safe my darling.

Sending all my love & gratitude,
​Ana Louise Bonasera

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