How to Cope with a Food Hangover

I’m back from vacation, and once again, my pants are a bit too tight and my muffin top is making a reappearance in a big way. Why do I do this to myself? Gelato every night and every meal out for a full week. This was bound to have an impact. My usual reaction is disgust with myself and feeling like a overstuffed whale. How do I cope with the damage that has been done?

First, I realize that I am just human and so are you. We deserve to enjoy our vacation and indulge in our favorite treats. Yes, I mindfully ate, made good choices (most of the time), and recognized when I was full. However, just the shear number of meals out at restaurants was my downfall.

How do we rise above the self-criticism and shame that we feel? As women, we speak negatively to ourselves and reject our bodies constantly. I am mindful of this fact and try hard to not participate in this self-loathing. We are better than this. I redirect my thoughts, acknowledge that I’m human and tell myself that I am not an evildoer because I ate gelato nightly. (Have you ever tried pistachio gelato, its insane.) I should not feel shame because I enjoyed my vacation.

Our culture values being skinny, beautiful, young and rich. We are barraged by messages from the media (social media included), that we need to be all these things in order to be accepted and worthy.

Let’s remove the negativity, shame, and self-criticism, and embrace our desire to enjoy life without guilt. Once I get back to my regular eating habits, exercise regimen, smoothies, and eating at home, I will be back in control and on track. My body will respond to this in good time.nLet’s change the conversation from weight to well being, and eat for health instead of the number on the scale. I want to feel good inside and out, and give myself permission without guilt for a week of over indulgence. Healthy living is a long haul and not defined by one week. When I am not nice to myself, I notice I am not nice to others. My family should not have to pay for this. I am so much more than my waistline.

I am suggesting a new paradigm for women to lose the weight mentally, so we can lose it physically. I want to help women find joy, peace and fulfillment in their lives and accept themselves as they are right now. Understandably, we may want to lose weight, but the first step is not shaming ourselves, which leads to overeating.

Struggling with the last 5-10 pounds is not easy. You may fluctuate from week to week, but overall it is almost impossible to be completely content with our bodies. There are other factors at stake besides calories. Our metabolism rates and hormones play a big factor. We may never be able to meet our goals, so lets move on already and focus on what we can control and what really matters.

If you are interested in finding ways to address this which will have a huge impact not only on your weight and health, but in all aspects of your life, check out my Mindful is the New Skinny Bootcamp!