Adopt a more self-compassionate approach to eating and body image, as it is key to becoming happier with your body and healthier in what you feed yourself.
To achieve health and balance, work on four interconnected areas: physical (feeding yourself lovingly), emotional (coping with emotions), mental (examining your thoughts), and spiritual (connecting with deeper life areas).
When deciding what to eat, ask yourself: ‘If I was feeding someone I love who doesn’t diet or riot, how would I feed them right now?’ Use this question to guide your choices towards loving and respectful eating.
Let go of the obsession to change your body and instead learn to treat your body respectfully, making peace with its natural state as a result.
When selecting food, use a checklist to ensure it is nutritious (nourishing), delicious (tasty, not bland diet food), and moderate (a loving, respectful amount that satisfies your body).
Eat in a loving, respectful way by avoiding both starving and stuffing yourself, which helps regulate hormones and metabolism for overall well-being.
Examine the quality of your thoughts and self-talk; actively upgrade your thinking to be kind and compassionate, as you would speak to someone you love, rather than listening to critical ‘dieter’ or ‘rioter’ voices.
Find sufficient support that helps you explore the deeper issues behind your eating habits, focusing on ‘what you are eating over’ rather than just ‘what you are eating’.
Develop a ‘spirit filler list’ of activities that genuinely replenish your spirit and make you feel fulfilled afterwards, such as rest, nature, yoga, baths, meditation, connecting with loved ones, or creative hobbies.
Before eating, mindfully check if you are truly hungry by ruling out other needs like emotional discomfort, unhelpful thoughts, spiritual emptiness, or physical needs such as rest or movement.
Cultivate general mindfulness and consciousness, being awake and aware of your needs and feelings both when you are eating and when you are not eating.
Cultivate a strong belief that dieting is part of the problem, not the solution, and be brave enough to act consistently with this belief, even if it means going against cultural norms.
If you struggle with unkind self-talk, seek safe support from others who can help you identify and challenge these unhelpful internal monologues.