These days figuring out what to eat and when can be difficult for lots of people, even though many know it should be simple.
People have lost sight of eating with freedom and mindfulness while enjoying the food they use to fuel their bodies.
Australian nutritionist Jessica Sepel was someone who struggled with her eating as she relied on numbers, calorie counting and didn’t trust her body.
Now Jessica has found a simple way to enjoy her food and have a balanced diet.
Australian nutritionist, Jessica Sepel, was someone who struggled with her eating but now she has taught herself a healthier approach (pictured)
‘For most of my life, I was a fad dieter. I relied on numbers, I was fixated on calorie counting and scale watching,’ she told FEMAIL.
‘As a result, I didn’t really trust my body. I became more and more restrictive with food. I was cutting out essential food groups.
‘I became disconnected with how food made me feel. I was incredibly controlling around my food choices.’
This culmination of issues caused Jessica to have a broken relationship with food and with her body.
‘For most of my life, I was a fad dieter. I relied on numbers, I was fixated on calorie counting and scale watching,’ she told FEMAIL
Now Jessica eats a varied diet and to ensure she is getting a wide variety of nutrients
‘I became disconnected with how food made me feel. I was incredibly controlling around my food choices,’ she said
It was when Jessica started studying health that she was able to begin to heal her broken relationship with food.
‘I started connecting to my body again and embraced what I called “flexible eating” which is eating with a sense of mindfulness, freedom and joy,’ she said.
So what is flexible eating?
Jessica said ”flexitarians” are mindful eaters that ‘see food as nourishment’ and they eat certain foods depending on what they think their body needs.
‘They do not believe in “perfect eating” or extremes around food,’ she explained.
‘They don’t believe in calorie counting or strict food rules.’
It was when Jessica started studying health that she was able to begin to heal her broken relationship with food
‘I started connecting to my body again and embraced what I called “flexible eating”,’ she said
Jessica believes that people are placing too much pressure on themselves to follow the perfect diet, which she puts down to the fad diet culture that has permeated through society.
Jessica started by tuning into her body and figuring out what foods work for her own body and then she said no to diets.
‘I’d had enough. I vowed to never give into them again. See diets cause our bodies to rebel. When we restrict and deprive with food – we tend to overeat, emotionally eat or binge,’ she said.
The nutritionist became an intuitive eater and trained herself to listen to the signals that her body was sending her.
Jessica started by tuning into her body and figuring out what foods work for her own body and then she said no to diets
The nutritionist became an intuitive eater and trained herself to listen to the signals that her body was sending her
She also taught herself to be ‘kind and flexible’.
‘We are so hard on ourselves when it comes to eating well. Being kind to yourself and having kind thoughts immediately helps you to reconnect to food in a positive way,’ Jessica explained.
‘Sometimes we do not have access to the perfect meal, so just make the best choice available to you.’
Jessica no longer judges herself when she’s eating as she doesn’t believe that this is a kind way to treat your body.
Jessica also ensures that she eats mindfully and with gratitude and makes the effort to say “thank you” every time she eats
Although she does believe that being aware of how you eat is important you have to make sure you’re not being negative about what you consume.
‘If you’re hoping to eat better at the next meal, make a simple mental/physical note to yourself to do this. You will do better next time,’ she told FEMAIL.
‘Just being aware is enough. When I catch myself being judgmental, I take a big deep breath in and exhale with this affirmation, ”Let go, Jess”.’
Jessica also ensures that she eats mindfully and with gratitude and makes the effort to say “thank you” every time she eats.
Finally, she has realised that no ‘one diet fits all’ which has helped her let go of any guilt.
‘Guilt around food adds so much stress to our bodies. We have to trust more and release the guilt,’ she said.