Has Anyone Noticed?
Have you noticed your experience with food shifting in the context of living through this pandemic?
Anxiety, fear of scarcity, being replaced by discomfort, and trouble trusting yourself, your body? Perhaps eating beyond fullness? Or feeling unable to tune into hunger cues? With a dash of diet culture-derived fatphobia suggesting that if a body changes while surviving a global health crisis, that is 1. Worst case scenario and 2. Entirely within your control and 3. A thing that you need to prevent by not eating/eating certain foods.
Transitioning to seeking comfort food? Familiar food? Seeking satisfaction in a new way? Perhaps being replaced by settling into the comfort of a new normal with fewer perceived extremes?
And maybe not.
I’m chatting with clients about this phenomenon. And am so grateful that for most, compassion has allowed a natural evolution of sorts. A curious return to body trust. A realization that once condemned foods can be part of an experience with food that is helpful and not harmful. A resumed connection to body cues. A frustration with diet culture preying on this moment. A realization that the gym wasn’t actually necessary, perhaps. A curiosity about incorporation of foods consumed for the sake of the season, and the realization that the grocery store heroes are restocking the shelves.
For anyone familiar with intuitive eating, this pandemic has offered, for many, a beautiful evolution. First, perhaps moving away from the principals, and then moving back to them.
1. Reject Diet Culture
2. Honor Your Hunger
3. Make Peace with Food
4. Challenge the Food Police
5. Discover the Satisfaction Factor
6. Feel Your Fullness
7. Cope with Your Emotions With Kindness
8. Respect Your Body
9. Movement-Feel the Difference
10. Honor Your Health - Gentle Nutrition
During virtual connection today, I am going to explain, in greater detail, what I’m speaking about. And the IG live (at 3pm EST) will be saved forever in IGTV.
This is week 10 of virtual connection.
And to my virtual connection partners, @encouragingdietitian, @bodypositive_dietitian, @hgoodrichrd, and @bodyimagewithbri, thank you.
Nothing Tastes Good with Shame or Guilt
Nothing tastes good with shame or guilt.
Ever.
And being stressed while you’re eating makes the eating experience less pleasant, but more than that, leads to body disconnection in the middle of a process that is ideally connecting.
How many times have you sat down to eat and are left with a pit in your stomach? Nerves that just won’t leave you be? Stress about how a food will make you feel or what it will do to your body? Whether a food choice will improve or detract from health?
I feel you. (There was that time that I tried to heal my MS with food. I’ve since learned better) And when food is challenging, be it by virtue of diet culture, an eating disorder, a desire to heal yourself, prevent infection, or something else, it makes what should be a pleasant or neutral experience stressful as can be.
... I shouldn’t eat this…
... this will keep me healthy...
... this is going to harm my body…
... i’m thinking about this food all day...
... if I eat in this way, I won’t be judged...
… If I in this way, I will be judged…
These thoughts and so many others make the act of eating STRESSFUL. And when your body is stressed, the last thing it wants to do is comfortably digest.
This is what leads to an unsettled belly/body if you’re eating an energized food, a ‘cheat food,’ a challenge food. This is what provides the false sense of security when you choose a safe food. This is your sympathetic nervous system doing its job.
And, eating food is not something that should elicit a fight, flight, or freeze response.
So the next time you’re feeling stressed about food, take a few deep breaths into your belly. Remind yourself that you are safe. That you are okay. And that the food you’re eating is about you taking care of yourself. Create a happy eating mantra.
Stressing about food is bad for your health. Eating and enjoying, WHATEVER it is, is good for you.
Happy weekend, lovelies.
#intuitiveeating #eatingdisorderrecovery #dietculture #dietculturedropout #miraclefood #nofoodrules #foodrules #foodpsychology #bodytrust #nofoodstress
Comparison is the Thief of Joy
Comparison is the thief of joy.
Less eloquently: Comparison sucks all the time.
and
THIS IS A TERRIBLE TIME FOR COMPARISON…
Getting caught in the social media comparison trap even if real-life comparison is less stressful than usual?
Acknowledge that you are only witnessing the parts of someone’s day, of their goings-on, of their lives that they wish to share.
Likely with edits and filters and revision.
Equally, if someone is doing/making/creating while you are existing, and you feel things about yourself as a result, please know that I FEEL YOU.
And beating ourselves up for the things we aren’t doing is like announcing body insecurities when we enter a room: It changes nothing and leaves us feeling worse.
No, thanks.
Breathe. We’re all okay.
Big (no comparison) hugs,
a
.
.
.
#selflovematters #endthestigma #comparisonisthethiefofjoy #mentalhealthrecovery #selflovefirst #mindsetshift #recoverywin #notalone #mentalhealthawarenessmonth
Thoughts are Tricky Things
Thoughts are tricky things. Sometimes they’re based in fact, sometimes they are based in fear, and sometimes they are based on misinformation.
Just like feelings, we can’t control our thoughts. But we can control our actions.
This is a challenging one, but I want you to give it a try.
Thought: my body might change during quarantine.
Is it helpful? No. Your body might change. You might gain weight. And if you do, you are just as worthy and good as you were before your weight changed. Diet culture preying on folx mid-PANDEMIC is infuriating. Weight gain is not a worst-case scenario here.
Thought: I can’t eat comfort/packaged/preserved foods without ‘making up’ for them later.
Is it helpful?: nope. Whether or not you feel anxious about it, give yourself permission to eat all the foods. If that feels scary, try incorporating anxiety-producing foods in the context of eating meals. All foods fit. Self-soothing with food is an ingenious mechanism. There is a reason that eating leads to dopamine release. Brilliant. Anxiety is temporary. You have staying power.
Thought: if I stop this diet, my body might change.
Is it helpful?: Nope. It’s true, your body might change, but we know that diets are famous for being unsuccessful long term and leaving the eater feeling responsible. Moving away from dieting might be the hardest thing you do. If you’re not ready for that yet, you are welcome here.
Thought: if I eat this food, I’m going to feel guilty.
Is it helpful?: No. Guilt is not a feeling that should be associated with food or eating! Challenge the heck out of this one! Is that part of your story? Or was it someone else’s story before it became yours?
Thought: I don’t deserve to eat this.
Is this helpful?: Absolutely not. Deservedness is not something that applies to food. Similar to air, you deserve to eat. Without earning a thing.
Some of the concerns about what might happen if you take care of yourself with adequate food & rest may be valid. And the consequences of not taking care of yourself are far more dire. They disconnected from your life. Even in this virtual connection land, connection matters.
IS THIS HELPFUL?
How will you use this today? 👇
Unfollow Accordingly
We’re nearing the end of mental health awareness month. Never has there been a moment like the one we’re living through. And if your mental health has taken a hit, you are not alone. As one way to support yourself, I’d like to invite you to review the input you’re finding on social media.
Leaving this here as a reminder that unfollowing is a superpower.
Protect your mental health.
Please.
Questions to ponder about who you follow.👇
Am I being challenged to think in a new way? Am I learning, even if I’m uncomfortable?
Am I paying for a message or a service that I trust has been developed with my best interest in mind?
Am I being supported by following this human?
Do I feel empowered by this message?
Am I comparing my story to theirs in an unhelpful way?
Are these messages helping me to feel better about myself? Leaving me feeling worse?
If I DIDN’T see a person’s post or story, would I feel better?
Review your following list.
Unfollow accordingly.
Big love,
a
Eating Disorders Don't Have a "Look"
What does a person with an eating disorder look like?
That’s a trick question.
There is no “look” that denotes the experience of living with an eating disorder. None. Zero. Anything that you believe visually represents what it means to live with the most lethal of all mental illnesses is built on prejudice.
People of all shapes and sizes.
People of all socioeconomic backgrounds.
People of all genders.
People of all races.
The SINGLE unifying trait of those who experience eating disorders is the pre-existing condition of being human.
Throw all of the garbage, stereotypical assumptions about what it looks like to have an eating disorder out the window.
Recovery happens. But not if we only respond to bodies that have changed visibly. Or fit into some foolish pre-judged category of who is vulnerable. Or who isn’t.
If you’re struggling, please get help.
I believe you. I believe in you.
I hear you. I’m listening.
I see you. I’m looking.
#edrecovery #eatingdisorderawareness #eatingdisorderprevention #lgbtqcommunityhealth #weightstigma #haes #inclusionmatters #bodyposi #bopo #nobodyshaming #normalizenormalbodies #speakyourtruth
You Don't Need to Manage Your Weight
You don’t need to manage your weight.
Anyone selling “weight management” as a strategy for health promotion is selling a product that will more likely result in a demotion of physical or mental health or both.
No, thank you. ✌️
#weightmanagementisntathing #antidiet #antidietculture #dietculture #riotsnotdiets #diet #intuitiveeating #edrecovery #fatliberation #fatpositive #haes #thereisnowrongwaytohaveabody
Let's Get a Little Personal....
Hi friends!
There are a number of new humans hanging around, so I thought it made sense to do another introduction!
My name is Anna. And I’m so glad that you’re here! I am an @iaedpfoundation Certified Eating Disorder Registered Dietitian and Supervisor. I specialize in the care of humans living with eating disorders, disordered eating, those moving away from diet culture, and all things body image. I practice using a weight inclusive, HAES®, fat positive, and social justice-oriented lens. I bring those ideals here, too.
I’m also a full-time disabled human. I’ve lived with MS for the last 20+ years.
If you’re new here, expect to read a lot about combating diet culture, eating disorder recovery, moving toward body trust, and disability lessons that I’m learning and sharing as I go. If you’ve been here for a while, I’m so glad that we are connected. Thank you for being here.
I never expected a social media experience to be as intimate as mine has been, and I am most, most grateful.
Let’s get a little personal, shall we?
I have a great deal of respect for the English language, and love to write. And I’m good at it. One of my dreams is to write a book. In the meantime, I’ll keep writing here.
I like most all food and eat with excitement. I miss sharing meals rn.
Dislikes: salmon, smoked foods.
I am terrified of cows 🐄 and am the bug 🕷 wrangler in my home.
Last book I read: Such a Fun Age by @kileyreid
Currently reading: Girl with the Louding Voice by @abidare_author
I love nature. I miss being able to experience it as I once did, and took for granted, in an able body. This is why inaccessible views exists. If you have a moment, check out my highlights; we’re nearing 400 photos + videos from around the world.
With almost 10,000 views. Wow.
I cry almost every time someone tags me in an outdoor story.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
.
.
.
Your turn! Introduce yourself, share a fun fact, why you’re here, what you’re reading/watching/listening to, anything!
Lots of love,
a🤍
Let's Legalize Ugly Food
When was the last time you saw images of unpretty food shared on social media?
In bad lighting. On an unadorned surface. Without a ton of color or texture.
Without a person included? (Generally, a white person with thin privilege, just the right amount of skin showing, in athleisure, looking as casual and calm and cool as can be?) Or a random product placement. (A pair of sunglasses left whimsically on display, as if the photo was casually snapped.)
Aesthetically pleasing food is wonderful. But diet culture, privilege, and fear-mongering have made preoccupation with pretty food a real thing. Because pretty food is the stuff that will heal or cure or prevent the side effects of being human. At least that’s the story.
Kale (always) and açaí or some ‘immune-boosting’ berry (not a thing) and avocado (because green fat > fat of another hue. again, not a thing) and some lean, possibly plant-based protein.
This is not a judgment about the aforementioned foods or the humans who consume them.
At all.
I’m one of them.
AND
I’m proud to also eat ugly food, too. Join me?
Wellness culture invading our plates is so uncool.
Making assumptions about eaters is equally (if not more) uncool.
Let’s celebrate ugly food. Uncurated. Unpretty. As it is.
Join me in the #ieatuglyfood club.
What is your favorite not so attractive food?
Swipe >> to see some of mine.
(Also, last night’s din.)
#foodliberation #allfoodsfit #allfoodisgoodfood #antidiet #antidietculture #dietitianapproved #uglyfood #dietculturedropout #fdoe #nofoodrules #dietculturesucks #riotsnotdiets #foodfreedom #eatwhatyouwant #eatuglyfood #dietitiananna
Guilt is a Terrible Dinner Date
If you’re feeling guilty as a result of eating a food, or putting a halo on another food, your eating experience is not as nourishing as it could be.
1️⃣ Humans who spend time worrying about weight status or the impact of eating ‘guilt-inducing‘ food on their bodies are more likely to feel out of control with food.
2️⃣ Guilt may lead to feelings of helplessness and feelings of being out of control with food.
3️⃣ Identifying a food as “forbidden” increases desirability and cravings for said food.
4️⃣ If #weightloss is a goal and food is identified as guilt-inducing vs. celebratory, desired weight change is not observed.
5️⃣ Dieters who rate pleasure as unimportant when choosing food show more signs of eating disorders & lower psychological well-being compared to other those who value pleasure.
The point? Enjoying food is a part of health. Unless you’re allergic to a thing, all food is fine.
Guilt is a shit dinner date.
Kuijer RG and Boyce JA. (2014)
Lindeman and Stark. (2000)
#intuitiveeatingofficial #eatwhatyouwant #allfoodsfit #nourishnotpunish #guilty #notguilty #bodytrust #haes #intuitiveeating #dietculture #antidietculture #nondiet #antidiet #bodyrespect #dietitiananna