03/07/2025
Guilty pleasure? This food has no redeeming value, but I still refuse to call it a guilty pleasure.
I've been immersed in diet culture as a client, an author, a coach, and as a nutritionist for decades now, and one thing I hate is all the talk of guilty pleasures, cheat meals, and even 'free days' when it comes to eating.
I mean what are we even doing making people feel (even internally) like s*** for enjoying something that that love in moderation?
Not to mention the fact that feeling like s*** about what you're eating robs you of that enjoyment.
The bottom line is this: If you feel guilty about your food — even if you're allowing yourself to eat it — that's a problem.
No, if you're trying to be healthy, lose weight, or maintain your weight loss, you can't eat whatever you want, all the time; you also can't avoid foods you love forever, even if they have no nutritional value.
If you're eating at a 100% compliance level 100% of the time, it's a only a matter of time before things fall apart.
Slack has to be built into your plan.
Your plan must include the ability to eat more freely now and then.
100%, though... That is a recipe for disaster.
Studies show that those who try to be compliant to their diet 100% of the time don't tend to stay on a diet very long.
In fact, those who follow a 90/10 or 80/20 level of compliance not only stick to it longer, but make MORE progress than even those who do manage to stick around at 100% compliance.
By making slack an inherent part of your diet plan, when you DO eat more freely, there will be no guilt. In fact, you will feel great about it, and be making progress, because you're actually following your plan.
Wouldn't you rather be happier AND make more progress?
I feel pretty good about being a broken record here, but having a plan, allowing for slack, and giving yourself PERMISSION are three important pillars of making and keeping your progress in diet, health, and nutrition, much less the rest of life.😉
All of my books talk about permission and slack to some degree, even when I might not use those exact words.
Anyhow, enjoy your day, and if you feel guilty about what you're eating, ask yourself why.
