Have you ever eaten something and said out loud, “Man, I shouldn’t have eaten that!” Then guilt floods your entire body.
Now let’s reframe our thinking and ask you a different question: Have you ever considered that this guilt might actually be more harmful than the actual food itself? Today I would like to talk to you about it emotional components surrounding food.
My idea for this blog came from watching a video by Joe Dispenza. He told a story about cooking for himself and some friends who had come over to enjoy a meal with wine that he originally felt guilty about. But then he changed his mind and told himself, “I’m not going to sit there and feel guilty about eating a meal that I took the time to prepare.” When we desire something, we lack it, but what would truly fulfill us is the opposite – and that, my friends, is wholeness.
This really impressed me because it made me realize how much we criticize ourselves about our eating habits! The even bigger aha moment for me was when he continued, “The guilt I felt was WORSE for my body than any bad food intake.”
Now my little “spider senses” really got going. He was absolutely right! The guilt we place on ourselves about our food, our weight – any GUILT that surrounds us and our bodies can be more harmful than the “unhealthy things” we worry about!
Why is guilt so harmful?
The stress associated with guilt can lead to more stress, which in turn releases negative chemicals into the body – and this can immediately lead to reactive symptoms! Typically, gastrointestinal problems and even other symptoms such as headaches, back pain, anxiety, depression and a weakened immune system occur. The list goes on because remember, your body feels like it has done something “bad” and these harmful emotions can therefore cause a range of side effects.
When it comes to food or life in general, we shouldn’t look at things as black and white or good or bad. An example that immediately comes to mind is the word diet. We use it when we refer to the Elemental Diet so that people understand that it’s food, but what I’m talking about here is when people use the expression, “I can’t because I’m on a diet.” Then there is the face of disappointment towards the friend who just offered them chili cheese fries.
This statement immediately triggers a feeling of Lack or feeling excluded and it is this feeling, this thought and this belief that I am speaking of. Now, I’m definitely not saying to go out and eat all the super fat, high calorie, wheat and dairy rich meals you want! The key is to change your attitude towards your personal eating habits.
At LTYG we definitely support healthy eating habits as a nutritious diet is the goal, but balance is the key word here. Striving for balance in all areas of life, including food, is the best! For example, let’s say you’ve been trying really hard to eat healthy, but suddenly you crave something sweet. Again, we’re not telling people to adopt bad eating habits, but there’s something to be said for enjoying a good meal/treat if it helps your emotional well-being! We want to eliminate feelings of lack or limitation, even if we don’t eat what most people without gut problems eat (like wheat, dairy, fat, etc.).
Now, if you’re struggling with food cravings, I highly recommend checking out Jini’s Thumping Video on Sugar Addiction and Cravings! This post also contains lots of fantastic resources to combat sugar addiction and chocolate cravings. And here’s a great post about relieving the pain of cutting out sugar, as well as a guest post with tips and recipes for reducing sugar. You can also find ALL of Jini’s gut-friendly recipes here and some chocolate-focused dessert options here.
After these sessions, observe how you feel about sugar or chocolate over the next few days – and notice where else the desire for sweets is expressed, and then tap on them! You can also join Jini for a FREE SESSION on her Lazer Tapping technique. She combines tapping with access to tissue and cells in the body.
Memories, people and peer pressure
Food is often surrounded by memories and people, so go out and create new ones with the people, environment, food and lifestyle YOU want. Equating food with parties or memories can increase cravings and make it difficult to avoid certain foods. That’s why I say: Make sure you create new beautiful memories as you begin your new healthy eating endeavors. This way, your body can equate this new lifestyle with goodness and not restriction!
People can also greatly influence our decisions. We may even feel pressure to fit in, so we eat something our stomach hates just to feel like we fit in! I remember feeling pretty left out and even made fun of when I drank my shakes at gatherings while everyone else was eating the banquet of food. You feel a little uncomfortable. This is the feeling I had before learning the techniques I share with you.
Now if someone tried to make me feel that way, I could literally look at them with their plastic plate with garbage on it and say to myself, well, I have too much respect for myself and my body to eat that garbage. And besides, I don’t even need or want it.
This is true empowerment!
Instead of being tied down by addiction to foods that are terrible for us, why not prioritize your health and freedom? The choice is yours! I never I thought I could give up certain foods… but lo and behold, I couldn’t give up ANY sugar for two years. I mean nothing, no licking! The thing is: your taste buds change, your body changes – and soon there will be no more cravings or feelings of deficiency!
What can you do about feelings of guilt?
Feeling guilty means you did something wrong. Forgive yourself, the other person if necessary, and all actions. This can also be helpful when eating. Even if you’re upset that you ate something you really didn’t need or that wasn’t the healthiest thing for you, try to be compassionate and forgiving with yourself. Remember that guilt is not good for our bodies! Focus on what you want, how you want to eat, and the life you want. Instead of beating yourself up, put your energy into it.
After trial and error, you can create and implement a strategic plan with foods that you know work well for your gut. Habits may take a while to fully sink in, but the positive changes you will feel will empower you to keep going. There’s nothing better than eating healthy and feeling great. When you finally feel good, you won’t even give up the foods you were eating before because you’ll feel so great!
You have free rein! You are your own nutritionist. At LTYG we make a lot of recommendations, but the beauty of body wisdom is that you get to decide what’s best for you, rather than following a specific list of foods that tells you what you can and can’t eat.
Working on the emotional component is so important because, as I mentioned, food is associated with memories and comfort. As I became more comfortable, I felt more confident. I no longer needed food as a comfort or rescue from emotional stress. Food was just food, not an emotional blanket.
Jini’s approach to guilt
In Jini’s powerful laser-tapping video about shame and blame in medical issues (human or animal), Jini helps uncover the layers of guilt. This video may be more focused on the guilt we feel about medical treatment, but the way Jini walks you through the steps is remarkable for ANY guilt – including eating guilt! It takes you on a journey through the cycle of guilt – the initial situation in which you felt the guilt, some possible reasons why you felt it, what you can do to let go of the guilt, and how you can turn these feelings into a positive learning experience.
One of the things Jini says in this video that I absolutely LOVE is to accept this (experience) as a powerful teaching moment – a powerful growth moment in my journey. I highly recommend this tapping session because it will help you learn how to shift guilt and take responsibility for all of life’s decisions instead of remaining in a victim mentality.
As Jini says, I will take from this what I need to grow – to become more confident You.
Reframe your thinking
If you’re on an elemental diet, you may find yourself frustrated by the things you’re not eating right now. Try rephrasing this! Instead of feeling lack, feel abundance – focus on the abundance of rich nutrients and minerals you are providing your body with each elemental shake.
I feel like I’m left out when everyone at the party is eating pizza and you’re not in the healing phase where you can treat yourself to it. You may be frustrated at first, but this is where you can reframe and challenge those thoughts. I’ve talked before about how the time I spend on the Elemental Diet is an investment. Sure, you may be on an elemental diet temporarily because of severe IBD symptoms, but once everything is healed, you can actually expand your diet.
I choose to nourish my body with what it needs. I choose health and not give in to peer pressure that doesn’t benefit me or my body.
If you want deep healing, it can come with a few things choose give up, But these things and people can be replaced with better, healthier options – and new, positive memories!
Linsy is Jini’s assistant. From a highly sensitive/reactive case of ulcerative colitis to a fully medical and surgical treatment using all-natural methods, Linsy truly understands first-hand the interplay of mind/body/spirit on the healing journey.
