Posted by 
Last year at this time, I wrote the Instagram post below. I’m re-sharing it because I need to hear this message again and you might too.
***
“I’ve been wanting to share a New Year’s post because this is a time of year when guilt around food is intense. It’s that time of year when we are bombarded with EVEN MORE messages about weight loss, the “perfect” diet (Keto, Whole30, Paleo, Gluten-free, etc., etc.). It’s that time of year when we promise ourselves we’ll be “perfect” in the New Year (and we often binge on foods until the clock strikes midnight on 12/31; then are miserable as we restrict carbs, sugar, dairy, meat, alcohol, gluten, or whatever food group you choose for a week or two; then we “break down” and eat whatever we said we shouldn’t; then we feel guilty and the cycle starts over again).
I’ve wanted to write a post about this time of year but to be honest, I couldn’t really figure out what to say. I wish I could say this time of year doesn’t make me anxious or doesn’t make me want to “start over” and eat/exercise “perfectly” on Jan. 1 (even know I know that doesn’t work). But those feelings are still in me. What I can say, though, is that I know I want to FIGHT those feelings. Today, I’m able to recognize that it’s more comfortable to fall into the diet-culture New Year’s vortex, but that I’m choosing to do the hard work to resist it. I’m learning that every time I choose to follow a negative self-thought (that easily pops into my head) with a kind thought, I AM making progress.
So, what I am saying is I can’t sit here on an Instagram soap box and give you the best advice in the world. But I can share three posts from others that have helped ease my anxiety and I hope they ease yours. Wishing you peace and body neutrality in the new year.”
***
This year, I’m sharing the three posts I mentioned above along with some more I’ve found (be sure to read their captions; there’s good stuff in there). I’ve realized that to change my inner dialogue, I have to learn a NEW vocabulary. Recognizing negative self talk is a great first step. But to continue to make progress, I need something to replace that negative talk with. The authors of the following posts are giving me the words when I can’t figure out what to say to myself. These words help ease my New Year’s resolution anxiety, and I hope they ease yours too.
Beloved Body 