Healthy Eating starts with Self-Compassion

One of my friends told me about her experience that she had during another tough day at work. She forgot to have breakfast in the morning, so she was starving later. One of the mates at work offered to bring her some take away so she said yes. They had pizzas together and she finished her pizza quickly. One the one hand she was starving and hungry and on the other hand she felt guilty over eating so unhealthy again. Furthermore she felt way too full and was talking about her lack of willpower like this: "I shouldn't have done that, why can't I say no? Why do I always eat take away food that is so unhealthy, doesn't make me feel good afterwards?" 

When I tried to eat more healthy, this scenario sounded so familiar to me. What i didn't realize at that time is so important: The key to a healthy lifestyle which also includes a healthy way of eating is self-compassion. 

The more understanding and forgiving we are of ourselves, the better we can take care of our needs.

Self-compassion means to me the following:

• Self-kindness: Be kind and understanding toward yourself. Forgive yourself in situations of failure. It doesn't help you at all if you criticize yourself again and again.
• Common humanity: You are not alone. You share this experience with so many other humans. This is life. In most cases there are so many different things that are more important right now. 
• Mindfulness: Dont identify with painful or negative thoughts. Be aware of them but hold them in balance. Don't ignore them.

If we never allow ourselves to eat unhealthy, we automatically create rules in our mind. And I believe there is some excitement in everyone to break the rules. The more understanding and open we are, the more motivated and focused we are towards living a healthy lifestyle. 

A lack of self-compassion closes the door to learning about our daily habits, patterns, needs and triggers when it comes to food. 

Focus on a healthy relationship with eating and food and yourself, forgive yourself for the past. Give up black-and-white thinking. Healthy eating is flexible, it also includes being social and eating out. Healthy eating starts in the morning: No wonder you are starving if you haven't had breakfast in the morning. Healthy eating needs consistency: You can't expect to loose weight in a 30 day challenge. Healthy eating starts with a healthy mindset. Be positive. If you are thinking negative while or after eating like in the example above, you may be eating the wrong things, or you may be thinking the wrong things.