Who’s guilty of saying this…. “I shouldn’t eat that because…”⁠?
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When we RESTRICT ourselves it’s so hard to create a sustainable lifestyle in which we’re confident and happy!⁠ So, here are a few things to tell yourself if you’re starting to feel guilty.

Stopping The Guilt:

• Find a food mantra you can recite when feelings of guilt set in⁠
• Redirect your thoughts to a more positive thought⁠
• Find something you enjoy to occupy your mind (going for a walk, watching Netflix, playing with your dog, etc.)⁠

Action items like these may feel forced in the beginning but the more you work your “mindset muscle” the easier this will get over time!⁠ You’re intentionally rewiring your brain, and that takes a lot of time and practice.

Food Mantra Examples:

• It’s okay to not be perfect. Mindful eating is a journey. I’m learning.
• I might not be where I want to be but I’m doing so much better now than I was [“x” months ago/last year/yesterday]
• It’s okay to “break the rules” once in a while because otherwise this wouldn’t be sustainable
• One mistake does not cancel out all the progress I have made so far

This is especially important as we approach the holiday season. There is a lot of gathering with delicious food around and the temptation to let go of your resolve to change your lifestyle and pick it back up on January 1st is very real! Keep in mind that holidays are meant to be enjoyed and if food restriction or guilt are impeding your ability to do that, check in with yourself and remember your WHY. Remember your food mantras and that even if you aren’t perfect this Holiday season, you can still do better than you did last year. You can also stick to this healthy lifestyle between all the holiday get togethers instead of tossing it out the window until January. There is plenty you can do to allow yourself to still feel in control without the restriciton, guilt and shame, it’s all about finding the right balance for YOU.

Eating more plants can come with its challenges. There’s a lot of nutrition noise out there, everyone has an opinion, and it can be confusing to figure out what works best for YOU. Working through these challenges and learning how to easily incorporate more plant-based foods into your diet and lifestyle can be helpful.

Working with a plant-based dietitian to guide you through your unique journey and surrounding yourself with other like-minded people who are on a similar journey can be monumental. When you join my nutrition coaching program, you’ll get a highly customized, one-on-one experience to help you confidently and sustainably eat foods that taste good and make you feel good.

Click the button below to learn more about my approach and see what other clients have to say.