IT’S NOT A CHEAT MEAL

By Andy Hillocks

So you had a slice of cake, a takeaway, a glass of wine or beer, maybe all three, maybe just one, is it all over? Have you just ‘cheated’ on your diet? Lets rewind it a little.

let’s define ‘cheat’ first: “to break a law/rule usually to gain an advantage at something”. What rules or laws are you breaking? If your current diet doesn’t allow the flexibility to enjoy the foods and drinks you love from time-to-time, then you need to reconsider your diet immediately.

Bodybuilders and bikini girls are a different ball park – they have strict rules which they need t comply with in order to compete. Instead I’m talking about 99% of the population who want to feel good and enjoy a flexible, balanced diet.

Stop beating yourself up about it. So you had a chocolate bar, it’s really not the end of the world. Don’t be so hard on yourself, the expectation of perfection within our diet is unrealistic, in our pursuit of perfection moderation tends to get ignored. You’re a human, not a robot, it’s okay to eat food. “But if I eat all the things I want, surely I’ll gain weight”. If you’re mindlessly eating, impulsive eating all the time and don’t actually listen t your body when you are full, then yes, you probably will gain weight. The goal is creating a balance between nourishment and pleasure.

Finally, think about the words you use to label the foods you eat, ‘cheat’, ‘naughty’, ‘treat’. This mental state of being negative towards food takes away the pleasure that these ‘non-healthy’ foods can bring. It creates a restrictive mindset around food and you’ll soon be eating ‘healthy’ foods because you ‘have to’ and you’ll continue to ‘cheat’ and then get stuck in this vicious cycle.

The foods you eat don’t need a label, just eat a balanced diet which is full of variety and provides both nourishment and pleasure. Look at the bigger picture, there should be no guilt that accompanies certain foods that you truly want and enjoy.