Small Steps to Respect Your Body During the Holiday Season
Body image is something countless people experience, maybe for moments in their life or for longer durations of time. I have struggled with my body image and my relationship with food for a long time. These problems with weight and food have gotten worse with the COVID-19 pandemic and the dialogue surrounding quarantine diets. These concerning may be growing, for other as they are for me, with the nearing of Thanksgiving.
This pandemic has pushed me to take better care of myself in the ways that I know I can control. With the help of my college nutritionist, I am trying to create a better relationship with food and my body. One of the key things that I have learn is that no matter what the Instagram posts say it is difficult to immediately change habits. Just because social media tells you, you should love your body does not invalidate the challenge that may with loving your body. I have learned two key things that have helped me on this journey: honoring my hungry and appreciating my body parts.
1) Honoring Hungry
Honoring hungry looks different for everyone and sometimes it can be difficult. Sometimes the brain will stop sending hungry signals if they are not being honored. If hungry is ignored long enough then the brain will stop letting you know that it is hungry. There are a few things that may help to make honoring hungry a little easier. Maintaining similar eating times can help regulate hungry signals from the body that let you know you are hungry. Keeping snacks on your person, like in your backpack or your purse, so that whenever you are hungry you can eat a snack. This also means you are allowed to eat whatever makes you happy. Sometimes this can feel difficult but eating foods that you enjoy and that make you feel good will help your body feel more nourished. This may be difficult, but it’s okay
2) Appreciating Your Body Parts
A lot of social media marketing focuses on telling people that they should be in love with their bodies. But it takes time to get there, so it may be easier to begin with appreciating your body for the things your body does for you. If you can, go through a list of your body parts, and name a reason to be thankful for that body part. If it’s your hands, maybe you are thankful because you can write. My dietitian told me to do this and it is magically.
These tips have helped me treat my body with more respect and I hope they help you as well. With the holidays coming up, it may create more sensitivity around food, especially if family does not always keep their eyes on their own plate. While this is true, it is also true that we have to take care of ourselves in the ways that we know our bodies need. So, go grab whatever comfort food you want and relax. Its okay to relax I promise.
