Sometimes people can develop less than healthy habits in regards to eating. In this modern day there can be a lot of pressure to look a certain way, or eat a certain way, making it easy to suddenly start seeing food as something evil rather than a part of life which nourishes us.
When a negative association starts to develop with food, then food is no longer enjoyable, and something which could be quite simple suddenly becomes a stressful thing. Some people stress so much about eating, that it gets to the point of having to go to rehabilitation. If you find yourself wondering whether you might have an unhealthy relationship with food or not, here are some telltale signs that may be an indication you have developed an unhealthy relationship with food.
You Have No Self Control With Portions
When you don’t have an idea how much is too much to put on your plate, then you should probably familiarize yourself with what recommended portions are for your height and weight. When you follow the recommendations you start to identify whether you have been overeating or undereating.
Having a firm understanding of portion control means educating yourself on how much is enough of certain food groups. When you are able to grasp how much you have of a certain item, then you will be able to enjoy more of your favorite foods. Understanding moderation is power.
After You Eat You Feel Guilt
One common symptom of a negative association with eating is feelings of guilt following a meal. When eating food becomes something that you consider to be bad behavior, then you feel like you have just committed a crime after a meal when in reality all you have done is nourished your body.
It is important to start changing your perspective on food. Rather than saying “food is bad” you can shift your perspective to “eating food nourishes my body and it is important to eat wisely.” When you start changing your perspective on food then you can start eradicating the feelings of guilt.
You Fantasize About Food A Lot
If you find yourself thinking about food a lot and even dreaming about it, then this may be because you are depriving yourself of eating enough. While moderation is important, extreme elimination diets often cause very unhealthy relationships with food and can lead to eating disorders.
Next time you have a fantasy about food, ask yourself what it is that sounds so great about this meal and what you might be missing out on in your regular diet that makes it sounds so good. It may be a sign that your body needs more healthy fats and carbs.