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Eat What you Want (Everyday)
Why we focus less on diet and more on eating.
Annika Carlson, BS in Dietetics
There is something in psychology called a scarcity mindset. It's basically a pattern of thinking that ultimately leads you to self-limiting, suffocating, self-fulfilling prophesies. In other words, you become your own worst enemy because your pattern of thinking starts to regularly influence your behavior in a negative way. You become so obsessed with avoiding failure that you actually fail because you aren't focused on the aspects of success.
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Diets fail, in my professional opinion, because the mindset more often than not focuses on limitations. The opposite of a scarcity mindset is commonly referred to as an abundance mindset. This is where an individual focuses on what exists in its wealth instead of zooming in on what is lacking. So what is the opposite of dieting, and how can you achieve a healthy eating balance?
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I have two words I like to tell people when they are trying to change their behavior-intentional indulgence. It's not that you aren't allowed to indulge, it is just that you are now being asked to be more intentional about your indulgences. Focus on what you will have more of, and that extends to non-food related benefits. Focusing on calories and quantitative milestones can be less meaningful than focusing on the time, energy, and positive example you are giving to your loved ones. In the business world they call these things intangibles- things that have value but can't necessarily be attached to a dollar amount to show how much they mean to the company. Your morale while eating and the company you keep to support you is arguably just as important as the actual changes you are making to your plate.
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Here are my three tips when it comes to maintaining an abundance eating mindset and intentionally indulging:
01
Substitute
You'll often find that substituting parts of a meal (i.e. "zoodles" instead of noodles) can will make minor differences to the flavor but can lead to major benefits to your health over time.
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02
Share
Eating is a social activity, and you can find more fulfillment and interest in developing healthy habits when you indulge with an accountability partner. You'll not only want to make them proud, but you'll start to find satisfaction in making yourself proud as well.
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03
Size
Portion ​control is a real thing, and it can be a helpful guide when you are dishing up dessert, or really any food for that matter. Mindless eating instead of mindful enjoyment can mean ingesting more calories than you initially intended. Next time a craving kicks in, try looking at the label and seeing what the recommended serving size is. Sometimes 12 crackers doesn't sound like a lot at first, but ends up being just the right amount to appease your appetite and quiet the cravings. Plus it helps give your body enough of what it needs without too much of what it doesn't. Remember, don't think of restrictions when following this advice; instead think of abundance. What are you getting more of? How is becoming more in tune with your body's appetite and sense of fullness benefiting you and those around you?
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Indulging intentionally has revolutionized the way I view eating. It has helped me to eat what I want and enjoy it everyday-all while still eating in healthy ways. Tell me how you indulge intentionally! Share your comments below or on social media with @theannifeed, or #theannifeed. I am excited to see what you come up with!
