Have you ever said this to yourself?
I certainly have and what follows isn’t pretty.
This thought hurts, you know why? Because it comes across as “smart.” Responsible. The more you tell yourself you’re wrong, the sooner you can right your wrongs. This is shame wearing a mask.
If you’re honest with yourself, you know condemning your choices doesn’t make you NOT do them. “But Marcie, what I ate wasn’t healthy!” I know you think if you don’t call out the “bad behavior,” you’ll keep doing it. Please listen closely.
Your body digests “unhealthy” food better than disapproving thoughts. You can’t shame your body into behaving better. Your body responds to shame like any other stressful attack: flight, fight or freeze.
So, call out “I ate badly” for what it is – a self-improvement land mine that first punishes you with blame & shame and traps you into the illusion of control. Before you take off to go exercise the-pain-of-shame away (that’s what hurts, not the food. The food has already digested), stop this pattern of self-hate.
Stop trying to lose weight and be fit using shame masquerading as responsible self-talk. Has it gotten you what you want? I mean REALLY want?! I didn’t think so.