What do we do about the societal pressure that piles up on us when we try to eat healthily?

How do we cope with those who say, “Oh, you’re so thin, you’re fine,” the aunts who say, “You’re so young, you’ll burn calories,” and the friends who say, “One slice won’t hurt”?

Once again, on a Monday, you’ve decided to start eating healthy. Your decision to “eliminate sugar and flour from my life” goes great for the first five days; even with some ups and downs, you manage. You’ve waged a good battle against your cravings because everyone at work is only concerned with what they eat. Then, on Saturday, you meet up with your favorite group of friends. It’s the same whether you’re at home or out. As you put lentil meatballs, celery salad, bean stew, or salad on your plate, or order salad at a cafe, the insistence begins. You’re already inwardly battling that pastry or pizza on the menu that’s practically begging you to take it, and just as you’re about to turn away, someone keeps pushing that delicious-smelling plate right in front of you. Everyone does their best to get you to eat that pastry that day, and in the end, you do, and with a loss of motivation, you return to your old life, thinking, “I can’t handle this.”

Does this story sound familiar? It happens to many people. So, what do you need to do to win this battle?

First of all…

The reason why you want to eat healthily is crucial here. If you have a reason, a goal, something you want to achieve, even a mountain in your path won’t be able to knock you down. Your goal could be to feel more energetic, to get rid of medications you’re taking, to get rid of gas and bloating, to maintain your current health (which I think is the best reason), to have glowing skin, to fit into those size 36 jeans and never take them off again – the list goes on. There are so many reasons. If you really want that reason, no one can force you to eat something you don’t want.

If you did eat it, it means you didn’t really want to achieve that goal that much. If you look at it from this perspective, perhaps rating your level of passion on a scale of 1 to 10 will help you see yourself more clearly. If your passion is a 3, I suggest you focus more on your desire.

There’s also this situation: Maybe if you hadn’t been so insistent, you would have already won the battle within yourself. In that case, the problem isn’t with us, but with those who insisted, because they eat these things themselves and want you to join the same bandwagon. Not out of malice, but I think they don’t want to be alone in their mischief and are looking for accomplices. Do you want to be an accomplice or not? Thinking about that might stop you from reaching for that pastry.

Even if it’s a little difficult at first, if you continue to make your own choices in meals and say no to what’s offered to you, after a while those around you will get used to it. Believe me, after 2-3 times, they’ll stop insisting and say, “Merve wouldn’t eat that anyway.” And even further, those around you will adapt to you, spreading health and well-being. You’ll see healthier meals being prepared in the places you’re in. I’ve experienced this so many times with my clients and myself. You’ll gradually spread the light of healthy eating to those around you. After that, it will be very easy, it will flow like water. Before you know it, your goals will be achieved, and even those who insisted on eating certain foods will be talking about giving up flour and sugar… It’s possible…

I wish everyone healthy, happy, and sugar-free days.