What If Restriction Feels Good??
One of my fave gf peanut butter chocolate chip cookies
Hey there, it's been a minute, but I'm back after a series of long weekends – hope you've been enjoying some well-deserved downtime too!
Right now, I'm cozied up with my three go-to beverages: water, Zevia, and a decaf coffee, while I pour my thoughts into this blog post all about something that's been on my mind because it's come up in a few of my client calls lately: Intentional "restriction," aka, saying 'no' to food without it feeling like deprivation.
Don't panic, though. I'm not about to sell you on the grapefruit diet or a 7-day juice cleanse – no siree.
🎧 In my latest podcast episode titled 'it's not deprivation if it feels good,' [Spotify] [Apple Podcasts], I'm diving deep into the natural evolution that happens when you're shifting from one mindset to another:
From that old strict diet mentality ➡️
Embracing food for pleasure and wholeheartedly saying 'yes' to food ➡️
Eventually craving a bit more structure in your eating habits ➡️
Learning to say 'no' from a place that truly resonates with you.
It's all about recognizing when instant gratification might lead to long-term dissatisfaction.
Here's some examples that might resonate:
🍷 Like that second glass of wine that feels amazing in the moment, but leaves you with achy joints and a dull headache the next day.
🥖🍞 Or maybe it's the realization that too much gluten in your diet slows your digestion to a snail's pace and leaves you feeling sluggish. Sometimes, it's all about finding the right balance!🐌
🍫 Perhaps it's the temptation to devour an entire chocolate bar every day, but when you do, it zaps your energy and never truly satisfies your cravings.
👀 Picture this: You're at a get-together with friends, and there's a table of decadent treats calling your name. For the longest time, you've been all in on saying 'yes' to everything, a necessary step in liberating yourself from years of tightly controlling your eating habits.
But lately, you've noticed that saying 'yes' to every single snack leaves you feeling bloated and sluggish.
That's when deciding to say 'no' to a few extra bites becomes a choice that leaves you feeling better.
Here's the other thing: Saying 'no' doesn't mean you're just not eating; it could be as simple as opting for something different.
Maybe it's choosing a higher-protein, healthy fat, or fibre-rich snack instead of the sugary ones that tend to mess with your blood sugar, mood, and energy.
The takeaway? Saying 'no' to food and alcohol doesn't have to come from a place of restriction if it genuinely feels good to you and supports your health. 💛
So, if you're keen on making this shift and finding that sweet spot between 'yes' and 'no,' let's connect and chat about how I can support you.
[APPLY HERE] for 1-1 Health Coaching ✨
Sending Strength, Encouragement, and intentional food choices,
Alicia
PS. I'm now offering 1-off sessions. Just like how you'd book one Physiotherapy or Massage Therapy appointment and then a follow-up when it feels necessary. I'm now introducing that into my Health Coaching practice! APPLY HERE.