Around this time last year, I was discussing with many clients and community members the importance of enjoying life, and not beating yourself up for fear of not looking perfect in a bathing suit, or for having some weekend fun with friends and family. I continue to stand by everything I said last year. “You didn’t eat ‘so badly’ on vacation. You were just living your life”.

In the summer, and especially post weekend, I find myself scrolling through Instagram to find posts from influencers reminding us to not feel shame over the indulging we did, the “bad” food we ate, and to not punish ourselves with starving or over-exercising to make up for it. I completely agree with the intent behind these posts. It is to love our bodies and treat them with respect. However, I think these posts still have us being manipulated into what is deemed as “good” and “bad”.

Today, I want us to work on shifting our perspective a little more.

What if we didn’t, as influencers or people who post on Instagram, try to validate our “bad” choices by calling it balance? What if we did away with creating a narrative around this big story about feeling sorry for ourselves for drinking alcohol or eating chips? I know the intention is there, but instead of creating a positive narrative, we are just creating a different one, where we still view certain types of food and drink as “bad” or “worse than” something else.

Instead, let’s create the narrative that there are no bad foods. They are in fact, just food. Yes, some are more nutrient-dense and nourishing than others, but at the end of the day, they are all just food. If we phrase it this way, there should be little to no guilt around it. At the end of the day, we will ultimately come back to the foods that make our bodies feel best. I LOVE sweets and treats, but my body knows that eating those less frequently than whole foods and home-cooked meals will make me feel my best.

Moving forward, I challenge you to not put labels on food, and to not question your food choices if you truly are craving a burger and fries. We all deserve a healthy relationship with food and our bodies. Let’s also be aware of the seemingly relatable posts the people we follow on social make, because newsflash, often times they are the ones sharing this narrative with their communities to validate their own choices for themselves.

Enjoy the rest of summer (safely)! Wear the bathing suit! Eat and drink what excites you. Life is short and we all deserve to live our best life!

Yours in self-discovery,

Rachel

Shift your perspective and enjoy your summer!