The Truth Is, I Didn’t Know How to Start This
I wasn’t sure how to write this blog.
I’m not a doctor or a dietitian. I’m not here to give out rules, tell anyone what they should or shouldn’t eat, or make people feel guilty. Actually—it’s the opposite.
My goal is to help rewrite some of the false narratives many of us grew up believing when it comes to food, health, weight, and worth. I want to open the door for honesty. For a new story. One that’s rooted in truth, not shame. Narratives we absorb from magazines, TV, social media, school, work, and even our own homes.
And if I’m honest, this is still something I’m working through myself.
False Narrative #1: “These Foods Are Bad”
For years, I thought certain foods were off-limits:
- Potatoes
- Pasta
- Rice
- Peas
- Carrots
- Corn
- Sweets
- Chips
I could go on. The message I absorbed was: if you eat these things, you’ll gain weight. And that fear? It won.
Even though I knew these foods had benefits—even a cookie contains small amounts of protein and nutrients—my deep-seated fear of gaining weight always shouted louder.
What reinforced this? Phrases like:
- “I was naughty and ate the bread.”
- “If I eat this cookie, I’ll have to be strict tomorrow.”
- “I’m being bad today.”
They sound harmless. But for someone already wrestling with body image, those words hit deep. And for kids growing up around that language—it gets engrained. It even affects adults—many of us carry beliefs from childhood that still impact the way we view food today. I know it did for me, both as a child and as an adult.
What That Looked Like for Me
I developed disordered eating patterns:
- Sometimes I’d avoid a meal out of fear.
- Other times, I’d eat and feel guilty for hours.
- I’d eat certain foods when no one was around.
- Or I’d binge in an emotional state, feeling powerless.
I’ve been working to rewrite this mentality for years now. Not just for myself, but to also break the cycle. I’ve caught myself repeating some of the same phrases. That realization hit hard.
Prayers, tears, stress, and worry have all been part of the process.
False Narrative #2: “One Cookie = Weight Gain”
Another lie I believed? That eating one cookie or one small treat would instantly cause weight gain.
But here’s the truth:
Weight gain isn’t instant—and it’s not caused by a single food.
There are so many factors that impact weight:
- Medical conditions
- Hormones
- Stress
- Metabolism
- Muscle mass
- Total caloric intake
One thing that helped me shift my thinking was learning this:
It takes about 3,600 extra calories (above what you burn through daily living or activity) to gain one pound.
That’s roughly 515 extra calories a day for a week.
Not a cookie. Not a single treat.
And yet, the guilt I used to feel over that one bite would be enormous.
We’re bombarded with fear-based messaging about health.
And when fear takes over, it clouds our ability to make balanced choices.
A Story That Shifted My Perspective
One day, my mother-in-law said something that stuck with me.
They’d had a busy day. She’d eaten balanced meals, but by evening, she wanted a Snickers bar.
She was using the Noom app (I’m not affiliated with it), and it reminded her:
One treat isn’t going to derail everything. It’s just a small part of the bigger picture.
So she gave herself grace.
She ate the candy bar.
She enjoyed it.
And she moved on.
That was the opposite of what I used to do.
I would either deny myself completely—or cave and binge on five.
And that caused weight gain. Not the one candy bar. The guilt and restriction were the real issue.
The Way Forward: Balance
This post isn’t about shaming anyone.
It’s about opening the conversation.
Because whether we know it or not, a lot of us are still carrying around false food beliefs—beliefs that lead to guilt, restriction, emotional eating, and even physical health challenges.
Let me give an example:
Peas are incredibly good for you. Yes, they’re higher in carbohydrates. But that doesn’t make them bad.
Balance just means being mindful:
- If I have peas for lunch, maybe I have one slice of bread instead of two.
- If I eat a higher-carb vegetable earlier in the day, maybe I choose broccoli for dinner.
It’s not punishment.
It’s adjustment.
And grace.
This is what sustainable health looks like—not perfection, but learning how to stop feeling guilty about food and starting to rebuild a healthy relationship with eating.
Where I’m At Right Now
I’m currently on a weight loss journey—not because I’m chasing thinness, but because my body is in pain.
I can’t sit comfortably in certain chairs. I feel discomfort daily. And honestly, I’m scared of what might happen down the road if I don’t make some changes. Not fear of weight itself, but fear of how my current weight may impact my future health.
All my medical tests come back healthy, but the weight is still affecting my day-to-day life. So I’m working on sustainable weight loss without dieting—not through fear or guilt, but through balance.
I’m rewriting the story.
Giving myself grace when I fall short—whether that’s believing an old narrative or eating something I used to fear.
And that’s a story I’ll share more of, soon.
Final Thought: You’re Not Alone
Whether you’ve wrestled with food guilt, emotional eating, weight shame, or simply confusing messages—you’re not alone.
Let’s stop labeling food as “good” or “bad.”
Let’s stop punishing ourselves for being human.
Let’s speak truth.
Let’s teach ourselves—and those around us—a better way.
Not one of extremes, but one of balance.
Not one of shame, but one of honesty and healing.
Let’s talk about the truth of food.
Let’s teach balance. Let’s talk about nutrition, the benefits—how food fuels our body and supports our mental state too.
This is my journey moving forward.
I still fall short of it often, but I’m practicing and learning to give myself grace as I rewrite the false narratives—as I slip back into old mentalities.
I’m praying the Lord gives me strength to continue and keep growing in it.
Want to Join the Conversation?
What’s one food belief you’ve had to unlearn?
Share your story below or reach out.
This space is for honesty, grace, and healing—and you’re always welcome here.
