food guiltHave you ever eaten something and said aloud, Man, I shouldn’t have eaten that! Then, guilt proceeds to flood your whole body.

Now, let’s reframe our thinking, and let me ask you a different question: have you ever considered how that guilt could actually be more harmful than the actual food itself? Today I want to talk to you about the emotional components surrounding food.

My idea for this blog began as I was watching a Joe Dispenza video. He told a story about cooking for himself and some friends who’d come over to enjoy a meal with wine, which he originally felt guilty for indulging in. But then he reframed his thinking, and he said to himself, “I’m not going to sit and feel guilty about eating a meal that I took time to prepare.” When we want for something, we are in lack, but what would really fill us is the opposite – and that, my friends, is wholeness.

That struck me hard, as it was then that I realized just how much we criticize ourselves over our eating habits! The even bigger lightbulb moment for me was when he continued with, the guilt I felt was WORSE for my body than any bad food ingested.

Now my little “spidey senses” were really going. He was absolutely right! The guilt we self-inflict surrounding food, our weight – any GUILT surrounding ourselves and our bodies can be more harmful than the “unhealthy thing” we are fretting over!

Why is guilt so harmful?

The stress associated with guilt can cause more stress, which, in turn, releases negative chemicals into the body – and this can immediately cause reactive symptoms! GI issues usually emerge, and even other symptoms such as headaches, backaches, anxiety, depression, and a lowered immune system. The list goes on because remember, your body is feeling like it’s done something “bad” and so those harmful emotions can cause a number of side effects.

When it comes to food, or life in general, we shouldn’t think of things as so black and white, or good or bad. An example that immediately comes to mind is the word diet. We use it when we refer to the elemental diet, so people understand that it involves food, but what I’m talking about here is when people use the phrase, I can’t because I’m on a diet.  Then it’s a face of disappointment to the friend who just offered them chili cheese fries.

That statement immediately brings about a feeling of lack or feeling left out, and it’s this feeling, thought, and belief that I’m talking about. Now, I’m definitely not saying to go out and eat all the super high fat, high calorie, wheat, and dairy-filled meals you wish! The key here is to shift your attitude towards your personal eating habits.

We at LTYG definitely support healthy eating habits, as whole-food-based nutrition is the goal, but balance is the keyword here. Striving for balance in all areas of life, including food, is best! For example, let’s say you have been very dedicated in your efforts of healthy eating habits but suddenly you’re in the mood for something sweet. Now, again we aren’t telling people to get into bad eating habits, but there is something to be said about enjoying a nice meal/treat if that helps your emotional well-being! We want to take the feeling of lack or restriction out of the picture, even when we aren’t eating what most people without gut issues eat (such as wheat, dairy, grease, etc).

Now if you are dealing with food cravings, I highly recommend giving Jini’s tapping video on sugar addiction and cravings a try! This post also has many fantastic resources for sugar addiction and chocolate cravings. And here is a great post on easing the pain of going sugar-free, as well as a guest post with sugar-busting tips and recipes. You can also find ALL of Jini’s gut-friendly recipes here and some chocolate-centered dessert options here.

After doing these sessions, see how you feel about sugar or chocolate over the next few days – and be alert for anywhere else the desire for sweets shows up, then go ahead and tap on it! You can also join Jini for a FREE SESSION using her Lazer Tapping technique; where she combines tapping, along with accessing the tissues and cells in the body.

Memories, people, and peer pressure

Food is often surrounded by memories and people, so go out and make new ones with the people, environment, and food, and lifestyle that YOU want. When food is equated with parties or memories, that can make cravings intense and certain foods difficult to cut out. That’s why I say make sure you create new beautiful memories while starting your new healthy food endeavors. That way your body can equate this new lifestyle with goodness, and not restriction!

People can greatly influence our decisions too. We may even feel pressure to fit in, so we eat something that our tummy hates just to feel like we fit in! I remember feeling pretty left out and even made fun of when I was at gatherings drinking my shakes while everyone else ate the banquet of food. You feel a tad awkward. This feeling was before I learned the techniques I’m sharing with you.

If anyone tries to make me feel that way now, I could literally look at them with their plastic plate of garbage food on it and say to myself, Well, I have too much respect for myself and my body to eat that junk. And what’s more, I don’t even need or want it.

Now that’s true empowerment!

Instead of being chained by addiction to foods that are terrible for us, why not choose your health and freedom over that? The choice is yours! I never thought I could give up certain foods…but lo and behold, I was able to go without ANY sugar for 2 straight years. I mean nothing, not a lick! The thing is, your tastebuds change, your body changes – and pretty soon there are no cravings or feelings of lack!

What can you do to combat guilt?

Guilt implies you did wrong… so forgive yourself, the other person if needed, and any actions. This can be helpful with food, too. Even if you are upset with yourself for eating something you really didn’t need, or that was not the healthiest for you, try to be compassionate and forgiving of yourself. Remembering that guilt does no good to our bodies! Focus on what you do want, how you want to eat, and the life you want. Put your energy into that as opposed to beating yourself up.

After trial and error, you’ll be able to create and implement a strategic plan with foods you know work well with your gut. Habits may take a while to completely set in, but the positive changes you’ll feel will empower you to continue on. Nothing beats eating healthy and feeling great. When you finally feel good, you won’t even miss the foods you ate before, because you’ll feel so fantastic!

You have free rein! You are your own dietitian. At LTYG we offer a lot of recommendations, but the beauty of body wisdom is that you get to decide what’s best for you rather than following a specific list of foods that tells you what you can and cannot eat.

Working on the emotional component is so critical because, as I mentioned earlier, food is associated with memories and comfort. Once I was more comfortable with myself, I felt more confident. I didn’t need food as my COMFORT or rescue anymore from emotional distress. Food was just food, not an emotional blanket.

Jini’s approach to guilt

In Jini’s powerful lazer tapping video on shame and blame for medical issues (human or animal), Jini helps to unravel the layers of guilt. This video may be more geared towards the guilt we feel when it comes to medical treatment, but the way Jini guides you through the steps is remarkable for ANY guilt – food guilt included! She takes you on a journey through the cycle of guilt – the initial situation where you felt the guilt, a few possible reasons why you felt this, what you can do to release the guilt, and how you can shift these feelings into a positive learning experience.

One of the things Jini says in this video which I absolutely LOVE is to accept this (experience) as a powerful teaching moment – a powerful growth moment in my path. I highly recommend this tapping session because it helps you learn how to shift guilt and take responsibility for all of life’s choices rather than remaining in a victim mentality.

As Jini says, I’ll take what I need from it to make myself bigger – to become a more empowered you.

Reframe your thinking

If you’re on the elemental diet, you may be frustrated at the things you are not eating right now. Try to reframe this! Instead of feeling lack, feel abundance – focus on the abundance of rich nutrients and minerals you give your body with every elemental shake.

I get feeling left out when everyone at the party is eating pizza and you’re not at the stage of healing where you can indulge in any. You may feel frustrated at first, but this is where you can reframe and challenge those thoughts. I’ve talked previously about viewing time on the elemental diet as an investment. Sure, maybe temporarily you’re on the elemental diet due to severe symptoms of IBD, but once things heal you’ll actually be able to expand your diet.

I am choosing to nourish my body with what it needs. I choose health, not giving in to peer pressure that does not benefit me or my body.

If you want deep-rooted healing to occur, it may come with some things you choose to give up, but those things and people can be replaced with better, healthier options – and new, positive memories!