The ‘perfect’ diet and exercise habits don’t exist
Kia Ora, I’m Morgan and I’m a recovering perfectionist.
Old me used to have a ‘perfect’ diet and ‘perfect’ exercise routines, in the pursuit of the ‘perfect’ body. This way of living took away joy, was consuming and made me angry and irritable. These ‘perfect’ wellness habits were rigid and didn’t fit into a normal way of living, taking me away from feeling fulfilled in my work, relationships and friendships.
The ‘perfect’ diet and exercise habits don’t exist. ‘Perfect’ diet and exercise routines may be red flags for disordered eating and exercise habits.
“Orthorexia is an eating disorder characterized by an unhealthy obsession with healthy eating. People with orthorexia become so fixated on so-called ‘healthy eating’ that they actually damage their own well-being and experience health consequences such as malnutrition and/or impairment of psychosocial functioning”.
This textbook definition ties together perfectly the concept of perfection in wellness being disordered.
Unfortunately, our society projects the unrealistic and unattainable ideal of the ‘perfect’ body (thanks diet culture).
“Perfectionism is the belief that if we look, act and live perfect then we can avoid the pain of judgement and shame”.
“Perfectionism isn’t about striving to be our best. It’s about holding ourselves to unnecessarily high standards, then criticising ourselves when we fail to perform the unattainable.” (@therapywithabby).
When perfectionism shows up our appearance, we can adopt rigid routines around diet and exercise.
In my experience, I used perfectionism as a coping strategy to deal with the limiting belief of ‘not being good enough’. If only I could have the perfect body, then wouldn’t I finally feel good enough? The trouble is, perfectionism sets up unattainable and unrealistic targets, the pursuit of which becomes toxic.
I encourage you to drop the struggle with perfectionism. Using perfectionism as a coping strategy only goes so far. Embracing acceptance and self-compassion are kinder coping strategies to deal with whatever reason it is that you use perfectionism. Notice when perfectionism shows up and remind yourself of these mantras.
Reminders for the recovering perfectionist (@therapywithabby):
Not everything deserves 100%
Sometimes good is good enough
Done is better than perfect
It doesn’t have to be perfect to be powerful
Perfectionism inhabits success
A healthy relationship with food and exercise is flexible. If your routines demand rigidity and perfection, they are not healthy at all.
Be kind to yourself,
M x
References:
Abby Rawlinson | Therapist (@therapywithabby) • Instagram photos and videos
