All I wanted when I was still binge eating was to be able to eat like a normal person. Most of my clients come to me with the same want.
But what does that even mean?
It means something different for everyone because there is no one way that everyone eats.
Normal is subjective.
Before you can even work towards that goal, you have to know exactly what that goal is for you.
Yes we all want to be able to eat when we’re hungry, stop when we’re full, and not binge. But what else?
When you think about eating normally, what are specific behaviors that you think about?
Take a look at your current habits and decide what you want to be doing instead. Look at people who’s eating habits you admire and figure out what habits of their’s you want to incorporate into your life.
Then the most important part, is figuring out how you would have to be thinking in order to make these habits a reality for you.
It’s not just about how you behave around food, but how you think about it. Those people you admire for their eating habits, what do you think they think about when they stop eating when they’re full? What do you think they think so they don’t go on eating binges?
It’s those thoughts that need to be practiced and then the behaviors will fall into place.
Pay attention to how you’re thinking now when you’re thinking about food, when you’re around food, and when you’re eating. It’s those thoughts that are driving you to keep eating.
Looking at what goes on in your head about food will give you the “why” behind your eating habits. Once you have the why, that’s when you can make a plan for change.
What does normal eating mean to you? What thoughts are holding you back from eating that way? Know what your exact goals are and where your starting point is.
