January brings the possibility of many new and exciting things. It is a time to think about what you value and desire for the year ahead; a time, perhaps, to do something new and unusual or different. However, instead of braving the icy weather and taking a chance with a new adventure, all too often we can get sucked into the idea that the body has to change. One minute on Instagram or TikTok brings up a plethora of diet, detox and exercise regimes. At the office water cooler, one is highly likely to hear about guilt and shame for enjoying festive food and punishing regimes as a response.
As a nutritional therapist, any eating and exercise plans, no matter who endorses them – whether that be a celebrity or famous company – is a worry. They are a worry because they distort how we, as humans, are designed to look after ourselves. We are not designed to follow a set of arbitrary rules made by someone who’s objective is not to help you be happy & safe, but to make money. We are not designed to look after ourselves by following random rules – no matter how catchy or popular they are. Rule-based eating and exercise objectives have no idea what you – as an individual – actually need. The rules do not know your unique lifestyle, unique nutrient needs and your unique energy needs. Nor do they allow for changes in need throughout the month e.g. around one’s menstrual cycle. Nor do they allow for your cultural or religious needs. Most significantly, restricting and exercising in a rule-based manner perpetuates disordered thinking and behaviours.
Nutritional therapy helps one move beyond rule-based eating and helps one start to feel confident in connecting to one’s true needs.
A few nutritional winter tips:
Recognise that as the weather ebbs and flows – your appetite will too. Allow yourself to be more or that bit less hungry and work on honouring those feelings.
While you may have eaten differently over the festive period, compensating with restrictive and exercise behaviours is not helpful. Instead work on finding your own, non-rule-based, connected way of eating for the year ahead.
Block all social media accounts (including suggested accounts) that talk about food, exercise and supplements. These posts do not know you and therefore cannot possibly be helpful or relevant.
Find a new recipe, new food or new restaurant that reflects your food personality and enjoy trying something new.
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