Nutrition shouldn't stress you out!

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. 

Sue was about to give up before she came to MidStrong. 

She was on a diet that made her eliminate foods, eat only during narrow time windows, and was really restrictive. 

Can you guess what happened? It totally stressed her out!! And she couldn’t stick with it.

She felt miserable - a failure, exhausted, isolated, and depressed. 

Bums us out because it’s all too common. We take a different approach. 

We teach our members to adopt the mindset that food is the most powerful performance enhancer available to them. We ought to think of the food we consume as an accelerant to our progress. 

Instead, for so many, it’s a problem - of the physical AND mental health variety. 

Here are some things we worked on with Sue that might help you stress less about your nutrition choices. 

Do away with the “Good” versus “Bad” language. 

Food doesn’t have a moral code. Stop judging yourself when it comes to eating-related decisions. Sometimes, we don’t have time to make that perfect meal, so go ahead, enjoy those carbs, and ditch the guilt.
 

Do you use food or alcohol as a stress release? 

Yeah, Sue did too. A LOT of people do. Instead, try going for a walk before pouring that glass of wine or eating those chips. 

If you still want the beverage, pour it into a nice glass and drink it slowly. Many times, it isn’t about the alcohol but the experience. 

Then, talk with your coach if you feel your consumption is hindering your progress. Together, you can make a plan for managing it better. 

Fast food isn’t the best option, but often it’s the best option available. 

When that’s the case, make the best out of an imperfect option. 

Skip the supersize. Swap out the soda for an unsweetened iced tea. Swap out the double cheeseburger for the grilled chicken sandwich. 

Basically, you have choices. Make better ones. 

Are you snacking late at night? Why? 

Did you skip meals because you were super busy? Is it possible that you didn’t give your body what it needed throughout the day? Are you truly hungry? Or is the craving coming from habit,  boredom, or stress?

The thing about cravings… they pass. When they hit, acknowledge them. But wait before acting. It’s a technique called “notice and name.” It works miraculously. In most cases, the craving passes. 

Good nutrition shouldn’t be complicated. Nor should it be a source of stress in your life. 

If you feel like Sue did, maybe we can help. Reach out and we can set up a time to talk.