Over the years, I’ve had many patients confide in me about their daily diet habits. I always feel so honored that people trust me and feel safe enough to discuss their routines – this can be difficult.
One typical unhealthy pattern I find people stuck in is the binge-purge cycle. Now, I’m not talking about those diagnosed with bulimia nervosa. That’s something else requiring therapy that deals explicitly with eating disorders. What I mean is a little different – here’s a scenario…
Jill goes on vacation. She drinks margaritas and eats guacamole and chips every day (obviously, I need a trip to Mexico). When Jill gets back to Chicago, she feels bloated, unhappy, and has gained weight. Because of this, she immediately vows to starve herself for the next three days to jump-start her new healthy ways and lose that extra weight.
You might be thinking, “yeah, so what is wrong with this plan?” Well, for one, our bodies need nourishment. Not eating slows our metabolism, depletes our energy, and negatively impacts our mood. You need to get back to your healthy lifestyle, but not eating is not healthy.
Getting back on track means eating healthy foods, monitoring portion size, and getting enough fluids each day. When we deprive ourselves of food for a period of time, this usually sets us up for another binge. And so the cycle begins all over again.
Next time you feel the urge to treat yourself, do so with the caveat that you will immediately get back to your kidney stone diet when you return home. Your body, mind, and soul will thank you.
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