“I just want to be normal” -a shout heard around the world!
People with food issues, eating for purposes other than fuel, seek normalcy. Eating until comfortably full, wearing clothes for decades without size fluctuation, and living without contemplation of every morsel consumed, are worthy goals. Seemingly unattainable even with concerted efforts by much of the American Population and lofty contributions from corporate conglomerates collecting profits within the diet industry should support successful endeavors. Seeking a healthy relationship with food, often a lifelong battle, the search for the Holy Grail, with the relentless gain and loss proposition, continues. Unreachable goal weights, fitness levels, and being comfortable in our skin, are denied after trial upon trial. Searching for the magic pill, solutions, and alternatives to achieve a certain, sustainable composition continues.
Yet what happens when we acquiesce, surrender, and alter our mindset, recognizing eating, food, and weight are not all the offenders? Stemming possibly from childhood and long ago lessons establishing awful food habits, we also birthed emotional voids, were denied unconditional love, and did not cultivate self-love. Food as a numbing agent to endure pain, soothe discomfort, and react to emotional needs fostered intensely engrained lessons for its recipients of weightful woes. The treadmill of dieting and “loss and gain,” cycles repeat until significant change occurs and we jump off the diet wagon.
To alter the childhood lessons that shape outcome is a heavy task, but attainable. Recognizing the past’s engrained messages that affect today’s actions is a healing step. Yet habitual behavior towards food is a monumental roadblock to overcome as the body and mind have adjusted to years of programming. Changing limiting beliefs allows transformation independent of the past, enabling us to move forward, forever forming new relationships with food. The repeated cycle dissipates, new attitudes are born, and lifestyle changes have a fighting chance of carrying forward.
When healing progresses, we change our relationship with food, and find fitness that strengthens and motivates the lifelong process of welling being is possible. Utilizing food for energy and nutrition, optimizing the body’s engine, is a vital step. When the mind finds clarity through clean eating, it can examine the emotional needs, clear the cobwebs of the past, and push toward healing. Strengthening the body simultaneously also affects the entire physical and mental system for change and enhances optimal well being.
Whether or not the direct concentration about our weight, food, and fitness continues for a lifetime, I am willing to travel that road. Perhaps that prevents normalcy, as normal behavior may not constitute such intense focus, deliberate effort, or need of community support. Self-care depends on these focused channels, an avenue that brings self satisfaction, clarity of mind, and overall well being. If this prevents me from joining the “Normal” club, I am willing to remain different. A lifelong happiness is sure to follow me.