Something that comes along with being acutely aware of how and what others around me are eating is realizing that there are some people who I aspire to be like when it comes to food. 

Stop and think for a minute… is there someone in your life whose relationship with food you envy, or you admire, or wish you had? For so long I had a horrible relationship with food and my body – constantly restricting, always being over critical, and never being truly free. And when I think about it, there are a coupe people in my life who live in almost the exact opposite way – COMPLETELY free of any food rules, body negativity, or disordered eating habits. 

This is not to say that these people have no self-control around food or don’t care about what their bodies look like – but it is to say that none of this information controls their lives, their actions or their attitude. 

Take my husband for example – he is truly the most intuitive eater I know. When he’s hungry, he eats. He grabs what he wants, or what is available, and eats it until he is full. If he’s hungry again in an hour, then he listens again and grabs a snack. He has no qualms with eating outside of normal meal times or indulging a little more when the occasion calls for it. He is content in his body and although there may be areas he would like to tone by going to the gym, he doesn’t kill himself for missing a workout or eating a donut when he wants to. He is so carefree when it comes to food and body image, and it’s honestly inspiring. 

Having him around has been truly helpful in my recovery. He shows and reminds me that food and exercise don’t require rules or guidelines. They are what they are – food and exercise. They are a means to living a healthy life, but do not need to be the main focus 24/7. 

So again, stop and think about it. If there is someone who you admire when it comes to relationships with food and exercise, I urge you to think about how they act, how they treat food, how they go about their lives in these areas. Think about what you could start incorporating into your life, step by step, to become more like them in this fashion. I know I work every day to become more carefree like my husband, because a life not controlled by food thoughts is the one I want! 

love yourself