🥧 It's dessert time. But before you can enjoy the first bite, you feel guilty. Sometimes you may feel shame over the thought of eating something "bad."

Remember the saying, "you are what you eat"?
If you eat a salad, you feel good. If you eat a whole cake, you may think you're bad.

You divide food into good or bad groups and then define yourself by your choices, which could lead to low self-esteem.

How you feel during dinner can change your metabolism rate. When you feel guilty about the food you're eating, your brain sends a signal to slow down the digestion process. Likewise, if you are happy while eating, your body processes food at a normal rate.

1️⃣ Take the pressure off to always eat right by changing how you think about food.
Instead of calling foods "good" or "bad" think of them as "healthy" and "less healthy."

2️⃣ All food is beneficial, whether it fuels our body or comforts our spirit.
​Allow yourself a bite or two of "mental health" food. This can prevent catastrophizing the choices you make and keep you from overindulging.

3️⃣ A slice of pizza shouldn't come with a side of workout clothes.
​It's okay to give in to your cravings once in a while.

Going to the gym for an hour after eating unhealthy foods can create a negative cycle of compensating.

Can't say no to fried foods or desserts? Build in wiggle room with the 80/20 rule. Of the food you eat daily, 80 percent should be unprocessed, or "clean" foods, while 20 percent are splurge-worthy choices.

It's never easy to change a habit, but getting rid of food guilt is essential when trying to lose weight.
Changing the way you think about food and how you feel when you're eating can help you avoid feeling guilty.