Courage In Action: First Steps To Moving Away From Diets, Respecting Our Bodies, And Reclaiming Freedom
The Challenge
At one time in my life, this post would’ve felt too risky. My own ego and false sense of control guided my every move. But telling the truth makes life bigger and better. What would it be like to turn our attention away from vanity and cultural norms?
“What does it look like to walk away from dieting and the pursuit of weight loss? What does the start of body respect look like?”
It may look like:
Asking ourselves: does this food support me right now?
Coming to terms with a tight grocery budget and shopping the perimeter and the inside aisles of the grocery store.
Making peace with time limitations and lack of cooking skills.
Connecting with a family member over meal planning for the week by centering choices around pleasure, comfort and connection instead of macros and function.
Considering “What is stopping me from leaving my head and dropping into my body for cues?”
Asking, “This hunger I have, is it for food or something else?”
Wearing clothes that feel comfortable even if it means going up in size.
Taking your partner’s hand and guiding it across that part of you that feels undeserving of caress.
Stopping a coworker who starts every lewd comment with, “I probably shouldn’t say this, but…” with a firm, “Then just don’t. I care too much about our work here to let a careless comment come between us.”
Checking in on and exploring non-food and exercise factors of wellbeing: sources of stress, sleep habits, the effect of marginalization, relationships, and access to equitable healthcare and safe food.
This is by no means a complete list.
But it’s a start.
The first steps.