Tools for Forward Movement: Part 4 Relationship with Food

Figuring out how to get the nutrition my body needs to thrive has been one of the most challenging and rewarding parts of my journey to wellness. I often felt like I took two steps forward and one step back. To find healing, I needed to change my mindset and my relationship with food. 

For many years, I saw food as something I could control in my life. I used it as a reward or punishment. If a day went well, I ate my favorite foods as a reward often leading to an nausea, pain, and an energy crash. This led to regret followed by questioning what was wrong with my body. If I felt stressed or angry, my mind limited what foods I ate in an attempt to regain a sense of control. This was a futile cycle.

When my body and mind hit burnout, eating became painful as my gut struggled to digest food. I saw multiple gastroenterologists, dietitians, and other specialists. I underwent a variety of tests, some helpful to guide treatment others not so much. I also developed food sensitivities and allergies limiting what I could eat. 

In desperation, I tried multiple different diets including "elimination diets" (gluten, corn, dairy, soy, egg) and "low diets" (FODMAP, histamine, oxalate, sugar, starch), and "special diets" (Paleo, SIBO, liquid). I navigated these with some intermittent guidance from dieticians and doctors. I would see improvement then hit a dead end again. 

I ended up malnourished, exhausted, and so frustrated.

Food became my nemesis, something fighting against me not for me. Eating caused me anxiety and pain. What was I missing? What was wrong with me? 

I reached out to the community around me for help. With the support of a few amazing friends, I found direction and courage to not give up. I found a functional dietitian and nutritionist who helped me figure out a plan to heal my gut, nourish my body, and calm my nervous system to rest, digest, and heal. Having support and a plan to guide me helped me to keep moving forward.

With this guidance, I changed my mindset about food. Instead of seeing back steps as dead ends, I came to see them as speed bumps. I no longer viewed food as my opponent, but as the medicine my burned out body and mind needed to heal.

My relationship with food is now one of curiosity and appreciation. It is an evolving relationship, teaching me about my body. I no longer label diets as restricting, eliminating, or lowering. I approach eating as a discovery process of learning what combinations and types of foods work best to help my body and mind thrive. 

By exploring my mindset and relationship with food I was able to move forward and not give up. I found resilience to heal my body and mind.

 What is your mindset and relationship with food like?

Are you struggling to figure out what direction to go with your diet to find wellness? Book a free health consultation with Meghan now.