Lose the Guilt – and the Weight!

With the holidays in full swing, you often find yourself faced with a variety of unhealthy food choices that tempt you into throwing healthy habits out the window.  For many people, indulging in certain foods you may have labeled as “bad”, not only around the holidays but all year round, tends to bring on intense feelings of guilt and a serious case of food remorse.

However, though it may seem that giving in to your cravings will cause you to gain weight, a recent study published in Science World Report reveals that those who experience feelings of guilt after giving in to a craving are more likely to gain weight than those who felt good and satisfied after eating the cake.

I know this may sound ridiculous to many of you but here is why this is true: when you restrict yourself from eating foods that you love, your cravings get stronger and you often end up binge eating on whatever treat you were craving.  If you allow yourself to eat those two chocolate chip cookies when you want them, you won’t find yourself eating an entire sleeve of cookies after refusing them for a few days.

This is great news for many because eating food is something that should be pleasurable and is something you should never feel guilty about doing.  Obviously, by no means am I suggesting you reject healthy habits and food choices.  Fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains are awesome snacks and foods to eat.  But if you allow yourself to eat the foods you desire in moderation, the guilt will slowly disappear.  This is a key aspect of weight management and rejecting the diet mentality.

Try it this holiday season.  Allow yourself to enjoy all of the delicious food and remember to always honor your hunger and satiety and never feel guilty!

Your turn to take action: How will you practice guilt-free eating this holiday season?

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