Summer is fast approaching and you know what that means– time to get healthy! Here are five habits to drop before swimsuit season.
Oh wait, you think this is going to be some diet-culture propaganda? Girl, please.
1. Attaching morality to food
You aren’t ‘bad’ for eating a cookie, and you aren’t ‘good’ for having a green juice. It’s time to drop the attachment between a food’s nutritional value and your own morality. You don’t lose worth as a person after you’ve eaten a donut (or two). Try to base your worth on whether or not you’re kind, a good friend, or generous (AKA things that actually matter). If you want the donut, eat the freaking donut.
2. Commenting on other people’s food choices
Offhand comments about somebody’s food choices or portion size are unnecessary and can be hurtful. We live in a society that, since birth, bombards us with messages about dieting, restriction, and shame around food. Nobody needs to hear the same messages from a friend or family member.
3. Using ‘the grind’ to justify skipping meals
As university students, it’s hard to always make time for meals, especially breakfast and lunch. With classes, studying, jobs, and extra-curriculars, it’s not always easy to slip away to grab something to eat– but it is easy to justify why you haven’t had anything other than coffee in 10 hours. Sometimes we even take pride in the fact that we’ve been so productive that we haven’t even had time to eat.
Wellness should be a priority, and eating is a fundamental part of making sure you’re working effectively. Schedule 20 minutes of your day for stepping away to grab something to eat, or make sure to pack snacks in your bag. Your body and mind will thank you.
4. Taking appetite suppressants
Well, there’s actually one appetite suppressant you should be having every day: food. If you feel hungry, your body is trying to tell you something. It’s so important to listen to your body and the messages it sends you. You can learn more about intuitive eating here.
5. Seeing food as ‘cancelling out’ exercise
Food and exercise are not antithetical; the dinner you eat after hitting the gym doesn’t cancel out your workout. Food is essential to your health, and besides, exercise is important because it makes you strong, healthy, and happy, not because it burns those so-called “evil” calories.
Of course, cutting these bad habits can be easier said than done. If you’re struggling with these habits or are experiencing an eating disorder, be sure to reach out for help.
Queen’s Counselling Services:
http://www.queensu.ca/studentwellness/counselling-services
National Eating Disorder Information Centre: