The GAME CHANGER that helped me finally ditch the diet was letting go of the fear of gaining weight. I realized that my body image was the biggest trigger for my food obsession. When I started to think about it, I noticed that every binge was fueled by hating my body, and every diet was fueled by hating my body. It had nothing to do with the food and everything to do with my body. So what did that mean? I needed to stop putting all my effort into the food and start putting that effort towards my body.  I had to work on my body image, or the food issue would never end.

Here are 3 journal prompts for you to start to dive into this and work through some of the body shame you may be holding on to:

01. What is more interesting about me than my body?

Make a list of all of the things that are interesting about you. Make a list of all your accomplishments. Note everything you have ever done that had nothing to do with your body. This will help in reminding you that your body does not run everything in your life, and if it is running everything in your life, what more your life could be if you didn't let it run everything? This list helps in two ways. First, it gives you awareness, but it also provides a great resource to pull out to remind yourself of what is more important than your body when you are having a bad body image day.

02. What fear is rooted in my gaining weight? What have I connected gaining weight to mean about me?

Often we see that it is not the weight itself that is the problem, but rather what you have connected gaining weight to mean to you and your life. So what is that? It might be hard to recognize that immediately; however, take some time to think about it. When you feel fat or have anxiety over gaining weight, what is the real fear there? What are you actually afraid of? It might be your health, but the odds are it is deeper than that.

03. Where is hating my body keeping me from truly living my life?

Make a list of all of the things that your body has kept you from doing. Or more than that, what you not being happy with your body has kept you from doing. List it all out. Looking at this list, you need to ponder, “Is this worth it? Is it worth missing out on all these things to keep living the way I am?”

Overcoming poor body image is tough – and I feel you because I was there. This is not something that will change overnight. However, I promiseeeee you, once you begin to get to a place of body acceptance, rather than body rejection, that will be your key to unlocking peace with food!