It's OK!

It’s OK.
Have you ever heard those words and really believed it? It’s OK.
We hear, “don’t do this” or “don’t eat that”. Say “I shouldn’t have eaten this” far too often. Wouldn’t you agree? Restriction and guilt, even shame tend to be constant emotions that many of my clients feel. They explain that there is too much information out there, don’t know what to believe and they don’t know how to trust in themselves anymore. It’s almost as if we get to a point where we are brainwashed into believing something that may never have matched up with our own values. So, I usually start off with them by encouraging them to throw out all the past beliefs and to start from scratch. This can be a hard process, especially if these beliefs have been around for a long time. Next, I start telling them that it’s ok to eat that slice of bread, chocolate, cookie, candy… Or it’s ok to not workout every day.
Why is it ok? Because. Because you don’t have to follow rules. Because you don’t have to follow other people’s opinions. Because you can and will learn to trust in yourself/your body again. The “it’s ok” is actually a mantra I been able to use and get some of my clients to use when they are not feeling 100% sure of themselves or when they start to feel the guilt/shame build up. I get them to repeat it until they start to believe it deep down. Sometimes it’s right away and other times, it can take a minute or two.
We need to start to learn to trust in our bodies and minds. If you want to have that piece of delicious Easter cake (or two – which is what I had), it’s OK. Now, some people may state that it’s not OK to eat like that all the time. And yes, I would also agree with that. But this is where trying to understand what our reasons are behind eating foods. Could it be stress? Lack of sleep? Emotions? Boredom that guide us? Maybe…but that would be a whole other talk in of itself. Another point we could bring up is listening to our hunger and satiety signals; knowing when to start eating and when to stop. Which again, is another post for another day.
But today, I want you to remember that it’s OK