As A Food Freedom Psychologist, This Is How I Tell My Clients To Relax And Enjoy Festive Food
This was a guest post by Lara Zibarras on Brainz Magazine
For years, the holiday season used to fill me with dread. With mountains of food everywhere, I worried about what it would do to my waistline. I was convinced my fitness would suffer and stressed about how I couldn’t stop myself from gorging on chocolate.
I panicked about calories, worried about macros and fretted about grams of sugar. Yet I’d also find myself in frenzied attacks on food, as I shovelled snacks into my mouth at the buffet table during parties.
It wasn’t a pretty sight.
I’m sure there are people who can relate. During the holiday season you’re consciously trying to restrict delicious food; but when you let loose, you feel unhinged.
Years later as a food freedom psychologist, I understand why I felt so out of control around food, and exactly why I went wild when I gave myself the chance.
Biological speaking, when we restrict food, several things happen in our bodies to create that overwhelming desire to eat. When we try to be “good” by cutting back on carbs, the body thinks it’s being starved. You then produce more hunger hormones to encourage you to eat, whilst your fullness hormones are suppressed so that you carry on eating. This explains why your cravings seem to be insatiable.
There’s also a psychological element. If someone told you to not think about a pink elephant, what's the first thing you think about? A pink elephant right?
It’s the same with foods you restrict. When you ban cookies and chocolate during the holiday season, you’ll end up wanting them more. In essence you’re placing them on a pedestal. When you label these foods as “bad” or “naughty” they become more alluring because they are forbidden.
For these reasons as a food freedom psychologist, I tell my clients to relax and enjoy delicious food during the holidays – and here are four tips to do so, peacefully.