We want the best for our bodies. What want to eat what’s right and do what’s right. We want to be hot men and women. We dream of being yummy mummies and delish daddies.
So where does it all go wrong?
There are plenty of reasons why we fall back to old, bad habits. My ‘Achilles heel’? Stress. Something bad happens and I want comfort. I want that pint of ice cream in my comfy pajamas while watching a movie. I spent a lot of time alone growing up (not always a bad thing, trust me), so with my treat of choice in hand, I would do what made me felt good.
Unfortunately, what made me feel good didn’t do good things for my body.
But times have changed. I’m an adult now with adult coping mechanisms so I can handle problems and stresses without turning to food all the time. I know what those refined sugars and processed bits do to my body. Heck, I’ve learned how to handle most cravings with healthier alternatives or by ignoring them completely.
And yet, I still have those old desires. There is still some part of me that is convinced that I really would feel better if I could just have a pint of Ben and Jerry’s while watching a movie.
This is where the stumbles come in. If it were just a matter of making a decision, there would be a lot fewer overweight people than there are now. But it’s not just one decision; it’s a daily decision – maybe even hourly when you’re first getting started.
What many of us have really is an addiction – to food. That’s why even years down the road, you might be taken aback by a sudden want – not even craving, not anywhere close to need – for your comfort foods.
The body doesn’t forget addiction as easily as you would like it to. The key is to realize that, even if you did have it, you’d feel guilty, not comforted.
We just have to keep that in mind.