True Indulgence

When we think of indulging...

generally we think of eating that extra slice or two of cake, saying heck yes to eating a pint of Häagen-Dazs along with the burger and fries, going all in on the pizza, the beer, and the wings, having two plates of your mom’s amazing lasagna. Or maybe it’s having 2, 3, or 4 drinks while out with friends, then stopping at your favorite drive-thru when the night is over. Maybe it’s a combination of a few different ways you allow yourself to indulge.

For me, indulging looked like this: Ordering a pizza and eating it alone in the sanctity of my bedroom as a teenager, then hiding the pizza box under my bed. Then, as a college student, privately binging on hamburgers and french fries, doughnuts, and ice cream, only to purge later, pretending nothing was wrong at all. And then, as a mom in her 30s, allowing myself large quantities of nuts and M&M’s, peanut butter, and jelly out of the jar at night after a long day of restriction and then finally enjoying my reward. Into my early forties, although I found more balance, I still found myself feeling like I deserved certain foods and/or wine and used it as a reward mechanism. Ironically, of course, the overindulgence quickly turned into regret, shame, and discomfort in my body all around, affecting my sleep, my mood, and my overall happiness. Does any of this sound familiar?

Food is amazing and to be thoroughly enjoyed, but not at the expense of our happiness, our sleep, our health, or our goals. I want to offer you this…

What if TRUE indulgence was NOT overeating? What if TRUE indulgence was the opposite? Sounds ironic, but it is true. Culturally, especially here in the US, we think that indulgence is overconsumption. But, truly it really isn’t. In Europe, people indulge regularly, but generally, they don’t overindulge. They eat on smaller plates, eat unprocessed foods, they eat mindfully, in environments that also feel like an indulgence, and many of them DO NOT struggle with their weight or obsess over fitness and their bodies like we do here in the US. It’s possible to indulge without overdoing it AND do so in a way that you are able to actually maintain and/or lose weight.  When we do so, we make way for TRUE indulgence feeling radiant from the inside out. Indulging is allowing yourself to enjoy decadent meals and foods, WITHOUT overeating, and if anything, eating just enough, no more, no less. Leaving your taste buds, your body, and your soul satisfied. I would ask you to consider overeating and indulging as actually being abusive of your body, which is the opposite of true indulgence. Indulgence is having high standards for your body, loving yourself, and having a sensual experience with your food and environment that doesn’t involve too muchness.

Does sustainable weight loss feel overwhelming or complicated to you? Do you need help decluttering your mind to reclaim food freedom along with the body of your dreams and a life you love? Make sure you fill out my application below to learn about my program and how I’m helping women do just that. Less is more, my friend, I promise you, and no macro counting required.

XX,

Monique