Breaking up with food: a love / hate relationship?

Clients often hesitate for weeks prior to joining the Healthy Weights Program. Their fear is that they will be saying quote “good-bye to a an old friend”.

However, it is not about saying good-bye to food or your relationship with food. It is about changing the relationship to a healthier one. A relationship where food does not hold the upper hand and does not have a tight grip on you and your emotions.

Like any healthy relationship, it is reciprocal, supportive and mutually beneficial. All meaningful relationships require investment and approaching your relationship with food much like that of a good friend or a close family member might be what is needed. Sometimes your relationship may mimic a bratty teenager that always wants her own way. Other times the relationship may seem like that of a gentle grandmother displaying wisdom and patience. No matter what the situation, remember that you have the ability to respond thoughtfully no matter what the other half of the relationship does.  A one size fits all reaction (love or hate, fight or flee, all or none) will not work.

Here is some insight provided by Renee at week 8 of the program:

It's strange how lonely life is without food as a coping strategy. I've broken the cycle of grabbing for food to squash whatever unpleasant emotion I'm feeling...  more than breaking the cycle, I actually don't even think of food when I'm feeling stressed and or upset.

This morning I was feeling upset and I chatted on-line with a friend. I opened with "OMG, save me from myself", she asked me what the problem was and we chatted until I felt better... hmm amazingly it worked and there was no self-bashing aftermath; as there would be if I had binged. I think there is actually a grieving process that is taking place for my "old friend-food", she always served a purpose but was never really much help- here's to letting go.

Let go of the grip; but not the relationship. Food isn't like smoking, alcohol or people and places that we can simply ignore. Your relationship with food is here to stay; no matter how muddled your past might be. Practice and patience. Your old friend is here to stay, why not make the most of it?

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