THE TRUTH-

One of the primary causes of developing an unhealthy relationship with food is a belief long perpetuated by the diet industry: that some foods are “good” and others are bad, as this belief leads to guilt, shame, and at times to disordered eating.

Since the 1970s, diet marketing has pushed this narrative, using terms like “good” and “bad” to label foods according to the rules of a particular diet.

Countless fad diets have built on this framework, adding toxic terminology such as “dirty”, or “cheat meal” to reinforce negative associations.
One diet even involves labelling foods as “syns”, as yes, I am very aware that it is supposed to mean “synergy”, but that was not the the way it was interpreted, and to so many became a detrimental term, because let’s be real- it was labeled on foods that are supposed to be not as good for you, so of course it’s connotation become negative.

As a certified NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) practitioner, I understand the power of language on the subconscious mind. And let me tell you — labels like those previously mentioned, and the belief that food is either good or bad is complete nonsense, and incredibly detrimental as it fosters an unhealthy relationship with food.

And food categorically has NO emotional agenda.

It’s not good or bad — it’s just food.

What does have an agenda however, is the diet industry, and that agenda can be harmful to your mental health.

Yes, some foods offer little nutritional value, but that doesn’t mean they are inherently bad. Plus they taste good and bring pleasure — so when enjoyed occasionally as part of a balanced diet, they won’t harm your health or your weight.

And let’s be honest: the idea of never again eating certain foods and living on 100% whole foods 100% of the time is not only unsustainable — it’s actually depressing.

A small chocolate bar a day, as part of a balanced diet, won’t hurt you. In fact, it can prevent feelings of deprivation and help you stay consistent in the long term.

The real problem arises when such foods are consumed excessively and regularly as a means of emotional coping.

This not only contributes to weight gain but also increases your risk of serious health conditions like cardiovascular disease, certain cancers, obesity, and type 2 diabetes. 
It also affects both your physical and mental health, so moderation is essential, but deprivation is not.

In order to achieve lifelong weight loss success it is important to rewire your brain to shift your focus from “what you can’t eat to lose weight” to “what you should eat to feel good” as this transforms it from a negative to a positive, because no one — in the history of ever — has achieved lasting weight loss through deprivation and misery. Those feelings create resistance and fuel the cycle of reverting back to old ways.

And I don’t know about you, but my brain acts like a petulant child in situations like this. The moment I tell myself I can’t do or have something, it makes me want to do and have it even more.

Following a strict plan creates a rigid mindset that can damage your mental health, increase feelings of anxiety or depression, and even trigger eating disorders — which are far more complex to recover from.

However, if this belief has been one you’ve held for years, then the process of changing it may not be as simple as reading and understanding the above and automatic change occurs.

Beliefs associated with strong emotions, especially fear, are particularly resistant to change and a reconditioning process is also required, so I strongly recommend using the below audio to help further your progress.