The fourth principle of Intuitive Eating is Challenge the Food Police.
Scream a loud “NO” to thoughts in your head that declare you’re “good” for eating under 1000 calories or “bad” because you ate a piece of chocolate cake. The Food Police monitor the unreasonable rules that dieting has created. The police station is housed deep in your psyche, and its loud speaker shouts negative barbs, hopeless phrases, and guilt-provoking indictments. Chasing the Food Police away is a critical step in returning to Intuitive Eating.
I admit that I feel guilty when I eat food that is “bad” or when I overeat. It doesn’t help the situation to berate myself, but I still do it. When I eat foods that are not good for me or when I overeat I should recognize the situation and learn from it. I’m not perfect, I’m not going to always eat healthy (life is too damn short for that). But, I am trying to “fix” some of my bad eating habits. Next time I overeat or eating something especially high in calories or fat I will just observe the situation and not call The Food Police. They are fired.
I did an easy 4 miles today in preparation for my long run tomorrow. I don’t want to tire out my legs because I’ve had too many bad runs in a row!
Breakfast – I wanted a big bowl of cereal today so that’s what I had. That TJ’s Raisin Bran Clusters is pretty “heavy” and I was super full after eating! Maybe I ate too fast too because cereal doesn’t normally fill me up like that.
Adding a banana with PB to cereal helps keep ya full 🙂
Celebrate Friday! I celebrate Cookie Friday because it’s the right thing to do 🙂 I started early with a trip to Dunkin Donuts for an iced coffee. I also got one Munchkin as a treat. One of my co-workers always brings in donuts on Fridays. This munchkin will satisfy my donut craving without eating a whole one!
Question: How are you celebrating Friday???
That’s a great thought about being “bad” and “good” when you eat. My mother-in-law says things like this and it has always bothered me, but I wasn’t really sure why, since I did agree that she shouldn’t be eating the “bad” thing very often. But it’s just the wrong way to think about food.
I have a single Munchkin every once in a while too when they have them in the lounge at school. It’s great being able to eat just one and not crave the whole box!
So are there Trader Joe’s back there? I thought I remembered seeing some in my travels on the East Coast, but don’t remember where (maybe Phiily?) I know Whole Foods is much more prevalent,but they’re also much more expensive.
You pictures are making me hungry. Time to go get some dinner!
Just bought the Intuitive Eating book. I try to follow the principles already, but I could use the reminders 🙂
Happy Friday!
I’m celebrating Friday by doing nothing at work!! Our comp system went down. We really can’t do anything! haha I’ll be dining out with friends tonight!
Michelle – I am on round 2 of reading it too!
I am in my second reading of IE and I LOVE kicking the food police out. Thanks to that I ordered what i WANTED to order at dinner last night! Not having the “food police” tell me fries were bad helped me eat just as many as I wanted without binging on all of them and feeling guily. I LOVE IE!!! I have never felt so free and happy. Friday is grilling night at our house. I will enjoy a beach bum beer.
🙂
That was one of the big lessons I took away from Intuitive Eating too – challenging the food police. I don’t have issues with treats in moderation but if I overindulge on something I wouldn’t “normally” eat, I now turn my guilt into focusing on what went wrong, what lead me to over do in the first place. LOVE that book, it changed my life!
My Food Police got fired just this week! Today I will celebrate by going to spin and having a glass of my favorite wine…but a cookie does sound delicious!!
The food police sirens go off in my head often. It’s hard to put a stop to negative self-talk, but I’m working on it.
Good luck on your long run.
I hear you about the food police. Yesterday I was craving chocolate after lunch and I got a bag of M&M’s then felt totally guilty about it. I quickly had to snap myself out of it!
Have a great long run tomorrow! I have been hitting a stride of bad runs too. I have a 10 miler tomorrow morning, hopefully I get back on the good foot!