Happy Easter Monday everyone! I wanted to focus on moderation this springtime.
Most of us experience an abundance of food, chocolate and Easter products that are available at this time of year and often overindulge.
People can then feel guilty, resentful, and even angry, blaming themselves for eating too much or not having healthy boundaries.
You will be pleased to know I am not here to berate you just share experience of how it could be different.
For some people it really is an addiction, overeating (as it was for me) and there are many recovery programs that can help arrest addiction.
Food addicts in recovery anonymous and over eaters anonymous are 2 that spring to mind.
I don’t think its work just telling people how to change the real work is done with the why we do it in the first place. One we address that issue we are more likely to want to make changes. So why bother? well there really are amazing health benefits.
Research consistently shows that moderation in diet leads to better health outcomes compared to extremes.
Extreme behaviours, whether it's extreme dieting, overeating, excessive exercise, or overworking, often lead to burnout and are unsustainable in the long run. Moderation promotes consistency and helps maintain healthy habits over time.
Overall, evidence from multiple disciplines suggests that moderation in all areas is a sensible approach for promoting overall well-being and longevity. It allows individuals to enjoy life while maintaining balance and minimizing risks associated with extremes.
So how can you change? I guess you have to ask a few questions first.
Why are you doing it in the first place?
Do you want to moderate?
Why you want to?
What’s stopping you?
How can you?
What’s the first action?
The war years where the healthiest in the Uk due to the list below, but as we all know people were often powerless over the situation and had limited control.
These areas below made the war years so healthy even amidst the stress that many people suffered.
1. There was a reduction in Smoking
2. An increase in community Support and Solidarity
3. An increase in Physical Activity
4. Focused on Essential Needs
5. People had stronger Social Networks
Today we have more control and choices, so the bottom line is to become more self-regulating and self-accountable which is where it can be challenging. Finding out the root cause of overindulgence can be a lengthy process but often its a deep seated need some level of gratification, what can be called as the ‘not enough syndrome’ which many people suffer from in various areas of their lives.
Embracing moderation in all areas of life really is empowering, but the quick fix needs to be addressed and worked on first.