Here’s How to Eat in Moderation.
I had my first açaí bowl in 2 years. This made me wonder how I went from eating it regularly to not even thinking about it.
The answer: I healed my relationship with food & my body.
Let me share a story with you today to help you understand the impact of a good relationship with food.
THE PERFECT BREAKFAST.
Around 2016, acai bowls became extremely popular. It seemed like every model ate one on a YouTube video and I saw them all over Instagram.
Getting inspired, I thought I could start my day with something sweet but healthy - an acai bowl.
NOT SO PERFECT.
I was so excited as it looked like a 'perfect' breakfast, yet I totally ignored the fact that I'm not a sweet-breakfast person (eggs and toast for me, you know me 😁).
Still, I kept eating my ‘perfect’ breakfast, because the girls eating açai bowls looked super fit. So unconsciously I thought it'd have the same effect on me…
THE PROBLEM.
I wasn’t greedy or “never full”. I was dissatisfied.
Because whenever I ate an açaí bowl I felt like I needed more. Confused WHY on earth I wasn’t full, since I had a “perfect” breakfast?!
I wasn't satisfied because an acai bowl is more like ice cream, and not very filling for me. More of a snack. As well as that, my body needs protein and fat for breakfast.
THE SHIFT.
After I had healed from all food and body shame in early 2021, I no longer ate things that never truly satisfied me.
I started eating what seemed perfect for ME.
Ice cream was no longer on my mind, and thus off the ‘breakfast menu’.
THE SOLUTION.
So the solution wasn’t to change my appetite and be more like Victoria’s Secret model xyz.
There wasn’t anything wrong with it. It was the food that had to change, so it served my appetite.
Finding out what you like and honoring it is the solution if you relate. So that you can eat and be satisfied.
Because satiation is the only way to eat intuitively. Eating when you're hungry and stopping when you're full. All without guilt.
THE EFFECTS & BENEFITS.
Meaning when you are truly satisfied, you will also eat less (stop overeating). You will eat the amount your body actually needs.
I know that diet culture taught us to stick to certain foods at certain times to reach our “dream” body.
Control gives you a perceived sense of safety, when it feels unsafe to trust yourself.
But what diet culture didn’t tell you about is satiation. And thus you ignore your appetite, are unsatisfied, always hungry for more, snack more often, feel guilt kicking in and find yourself overeating.
Until you’re back on the “perfect” diet to repeat the cycle all over again…
ACTION
Things need and CAN change, just as they did for me 😊
Take action and make the first step towards food freedom by aiming to eat intuitively. One way to do that is to eat what you truly want.
P.S. my açaí place here in London finally serves different portion sizes. Because today I actually do get full and the big ones are too much for a snack in-between. Because that’s when I enjoy an açaí bowl now - no longer for breakfast.
It’s like wanting to win a Formel 1 race without even having a drivers license.
"Samira that’s ridiculous" - yea, just as trying to lose weight intentionally whilst trying to heal your relationship with food…
But don’t feel bad, I tried exactly that for 9 years myself (so let me warn you!). Don’t go there.
Yes, you do can live a healthy lifestyle and feel physical good in your body, but get there step by step 💪🏽
