For many people steeped in diet culture, yes — gaining weight becomes the biggest fear, sometimes even bigger than being tired, irritable, missing out on life, or hurting their health. But that fear isn’t natural — it’s learned. Here’s what’s really going on: 1. Conditioning from Diet Culture 2. Fear of Judgment, Not Just Pounds Often, it’s not […]
The dieting industry has conditioned so many women to believe that less is always better — and that “control” equals eating the smallest amount possible. But the truth is: The fear around 2000 calories comes from years of messaging like: ? That’s where the harm of the diet industry shows up. It normalizes under-eating and teaches women […]
Most people who struggle with it don’t actually binge because they love food too much. It’s often because they’ve been too strict with themselves. Let’s break it down: ? Restriction–Binge Cycle ? Why “clean eating” can backfire ? Balanced Alternative
Have you ever tried this exposure technique? I have in my healing journey and although it was a scary process, chocolate no longer interests me as a binge food. It’s just some food that I eat as a desert and I haven’t overeaten on chocolate in 14 years. The idea is based on principles of exposure […]
Things like: …those are classic disordered / distorted eating patterns, not healthy strategies. Why it’s distorted A healthier alternative Instead of a “skinny fridge,” think balanced fridge: ? Real wellness isn’t about how little you can eat — it’s about finding a way of eating that makes you feel energized, satisfied, and sane.
Tea is not a snack. If you’re actually hungry and your body is asking for food, giving it only tea is like ignoring the signal. That’s where distorted “diet” thinking can creep in — swapping food with something that isn’t food at all, just to avoid calories. Why it’s better to actually snack when hungry Healthy way […]
For the longest time, i wanted to fit into XS size jeans, as a reward for my hard labour of dieting. I would gain the weight back obviously and then I would start another diet, a 20 year vicious cycle in the making. Here’s why aiming to be “XS” (extra small) and pushing yourself into hard-core dieting can backfire […]
Going to bed early just to avoid eating can be a sign of being stuck in a cycle of food rules and guilt. Let’s unpack why this happens and why it’s not truly helpful: 1. It confuses coping with control 2. It reinforces the idea that hunger is “bad” 3. It can backfire physically and emotionally 4. It disconnects you from […]
Using food as a reward for working out may seem harmless at first, but it can actually reinforce some unhelpful patterns around eating and exercise. Here’s why: 1. It ties food to morality (“earned” vs. “unearned”) 2. It can fuel guilt and shame 3. It separates food from its real purpose 4. It can make exercise feel transactional 5. It […]
The phrase “you look healthy” seems positive on the surface, but for someone with a history of body image struggles or disordered eating, it can feel very loaded and sometimes triggering. Here are some reasons why it might trigger a binge response: 1. It can feel like a comment on weight gain. 2. It shifts focus onto appearance. 3. It […]