Reclaiming My Body
Iâve done so much healing of my relationship with food and my body over the last year and a half. I feel like Iâm undoing a lifetime of body hatred and itâs a lot of work!Â
Having professional and group support in my recovery has been life-changing for me. But I know that not everyone has the time, money, or capacity to pursue recovery. So Iâm sharing some of the good stuff Iâve learned (mostly from my coach and support group!)
I donât diet anymore.
If you can mess up, get it wrong, or fail, itâs a diet.Â
I donât diet anymore.Â
I give myself total and complete permission to eat. I donât restrict food physically or emotionally.
I honor both my hunger and my fullness.
I pay attention to what makes me feel good -- and not just food -- also people, places, activities, inner thoughts, etc.
Daily movement helps my moods and makes me feel strong. I choose enjoyable activities. It doesnât have to be hardcore.
When the eating feels chaotic, I go back to the basics: three meals + two snacks as needed.
I parent myself, feeding myself as I would a child. For me, thatâs mostly giving myself balanced meals of protein + fruit and/or veg + carbohydrate and allowing dessert after lunch and dinner if I want it. I keep snacks in my bag. I take time outs and ask âWhatâs wrong, love?â when I'm acting out. I put myself to bed when I am tired.Â
Snacks that include some protein make me feel best.
I try not to fill up on âfunâ foods because that makes me feel yucky. But if I do, itâs not a fail. Itâs just something to get curious about.
I notice when Iâm using food to comfort myself. I am building up an arsenal of coping tools so that food is not the only one.
When Iâm struggling, I try to not ruminate on it too much. Itâs simpler than it feels right now. If Iâm confused itâs time to do something that will get me out of my head!Â
I practice connecting to my body. Deep breathing, yoga nidra, stretching, touching my belly, dancing, etc.
I donât weigh myself and am allowing my body to settle at the weight thatâs comfortable for her.
Emotional eating is normal. It is not immoral. One food choice is not more moral than another.Â
If Iâm eating for comfort, I LET IT COMFORT ME.
Health is a value I hold, but that doesnât make me better than someone who doesnât value health.Â
I believe that people can pursue health at every size, focusing on behaviors rather than outcomes.
I work on my own internalized fatphobia and donât bleed it out onto others.
I donât talk about diets or comment on what others are eating (other than âthat looks good!â).
I practice giving non-appearance related compliments.Â
I curate my social media feeds to include a wide range of bodies that do not type white-young-thin-ultra fit.
When Iâm having a bad body fever moment I ask myself: what is underneath these negative or controlling thoughts about my body? What would I be thinking about if I werenât thinking about my weight.
I donât have to be excited about how my body looks, but I do have to give her the respect she deserves. I donât talk shit about her.
My body is my ally, my vehicle for experiencing every moment of my life, the only thing in this entire fucking world that is truly MINE.











