Since the day you were born, you have been learning. You learned how to eat, sit, walk, talk and read. The common factor in how you learned how to do all these things is feedback. Feedback could come in the form of losing balance when trying to walk or a teacher helping you pronounce a word whilst reading out loud. The more we can recognize and learn from this feedback, the faster we learn.
So what does this have to do with your diet?
Well here’s an example. I’m sure at some point you have eaten something that made you feel ill … something that tasted foul to you or upset your stomach. You probably never ate that particular food again. You tried, you got feedback and you learned. If someone had simply told you that food would make you feel ill, you would most likely be curious about the food and wonder if it is really all that bad. The power of learning firsthand is great in convincing yourself of certain things.
You can do the same with your diet now. The effects of poor food choices will stand out in the way they make you feel. The feelings may be subtle – perhaps a bloated feeling or decline in energy. These effects can be easily missed, so stay aware!
If you stray from your diet, don’t freak out. Try to figure out if what you ate is causing you to feel less than perfect. If you can spot this feedback, you can then evaluate if it is worth eating that food again or how often.
What if I feel bad but still want it?
Well that’s the tougher part … the harder lesson to learn. Some lessons take longer to learn than others. Be patient; you are on the right track! The more times you see the feedback the greater effect it has. Your perception of that food item will begin to shift from must-have decadent treat to pointless empty calories.
Copyright: yeko / 123RF Stock Photo
Nutrition aside, it is always good to not over-think the nutrition and just concentrate on the end goal The last thing you want to do is be a “dry drunk” for goodies.