Ok, so unless you have been living with your head under a rock you have all heard of neuroplasticity, right? And you know that you can change your brain, rewire your brain and create different outcomes? Well what I don’t get is how come then, all those Brainiacs and so called health or lifestyle gurus haven’t got the message that putting out all those outdated rules about what we should eat and what we shouldn’t eat, what the perfect diet is, what the perfect body shape is, is not working? And neither is it helpful?

The truth is the human body is unique to each and every individual. Yes, there are loads of commonalities and shared similarities but what works for one body, in one environment may not work for another body in the exact same environment because of a whole host of different variables. And this is not because you don’t have motivation, or you are lazy, or you ate a forbidden food or didn’t follow x rule etc. You see, it is only your individual body that will send you a message, and that is usually through a symptom or a feeling, what foods or way of eating responds well with your body and what doesn’t. So for all these brilliant diets that have been developed over the years that claim to be the one, well sadly if that diet was the one, no one would be overweight, no new diet would be developed and we wouldn’t have a problem with obesity and diabetes now would we?

What this means for us then we are largely in a state of chronic stress that leads us to crave comfort foods and overeat to make us feel relaxed/safe.

So, where did our relationship with food, diet and eating all go wrong? Why did we need to create rules and labels? Why do we need to have this pressure to conform to some so called standard or ideal? If we go back to the idea of the brain and neuroplasticity, we know that we are creating a brain that is forever in state dependent fight-flight way of being that is wired to rest on the negative as a survival mechanism. What this means for us then we are largely in a state of chronic stress that leads us to crave comfort foods and overeat to make us feel relaxed/safe. And unfortunately, this doesn’t always equate to happiness in the long term. We need to change the dialogue around diet, food, body image and importantly stress. Education and empowerment not judgment and shame. Inclusion not discrimination. The dialogue starts with children, boys and girls.

We all have a unique body, no matter what the size or shape. It works very hard for you and asks very little in return. Be grateful. Show some compassion and gratitude.