
But also the whole 'cheat day/cheat meal' on a decided day?... Why decide that on a Saturday you can eat candy, what if you dont even want candy then but you eat it anyway just because you know you 'can'. It creates a very weird relationship when there are only certain days you are allowed to eat certain things and that certain foods are deemed as cheating. Cheating is a bad thing, food is NOT a bad thing. Eating some chocolate is not cheating, it might be what your body or mind needs right then. You should eat for your soul just as much for the health benefits of food.
Intuitive eating is when you dont have decided days when you eat things, but you can allow yourself some chocolate on a Wednesday evening if that is what you want. Or maybe eat some pancakes for lunch instead of a cooked meal. You listen to your body and your cravings and you dont call food cheat. Instead see it as treats. Extra luxury.
Let go of the thoughts that food is bad or that you are doing something wrong by eating certain foods. Food is energy which your body needs and uses.
Another thing is that those who have cheat days where they spend the whole day just eating junk food just because they can, that leads to a very weird relationship with food where for 6 days they eat restrictively, avoiding cravings and then on their cheat day they eat everything just because they can. It becomes almost like a binge where their body just wants more and more because it has been deprived.
If you instead allow yourself to eat different foods when you want it, then you are less likely to binge. When you begin thinking that you cant and arent allowed certain foods, its then that you begin craving them even more and when you eat them you cant stop yourself from eating it all because you feel you have done something bad by eating a little, so you might as well eat it all. Black and white thinking which isn't healthy either.

Also stop thinking that you have ruined your day by eating something you think is less healthy. Food is not good or bad its the AMOUNT that is good or bad. If you eat 100g chocolate everyday then it might not be so healthy but if you eat a square everyday or every second day that doesnt have to be unhealthy.
I also have a post about 'Guilt free' food and why its stupid because food shouldnt give you guilt, no matter what you eat.

I get your point, but remember everyone is different :) some people may feel they have to have a certain day a week so they don't eat Too Much of It during weekdays, and thats what Works for them. I guess the Word cheatmeal is because its not something you should eat all day everyday. Just some thougts :)
ReplyDeleteOf course. What works for people is different for everyone. However the word cheat meal is what bothers me.... its not a cheat? Though this is just my own opinion and everyone is different :) it's important to remember what I write is often my own opinions and thoughts and everyone is different. So its good that you did bring up your point, but my post might get some people to think about their relationship and thoughts regarding food and balance :)
DeleteIam totally in to ya. People who hadn't found their balance yet, have a difficultly in knowing to find their balance and knowing what to eat when. People who already found an healthy balance between food, exercise and life won't have a problem when they cheat, cause they know when to cheat and with what they will cheat. And because it's once in a while it's not a big issue. I see a lot of people totally disordered because there is to much crap on the Internet. And for people like that it's really hard to find their balance. It's important that you know what your body needs and fuel it with the right nutrition...
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