Stop Waging War with Your Plate—Here’s What to Do Instead

Let’s have a little heart-to-heart about something many women whisper to themselves daily: 

“Why can’t I just get it together with food?”

You start the week full of good intentions. The fridge is stocked, the meal plans on the counter, and you’re sipping your water like a hydration queen.

But by Wednesday? You're eating your kid’s crusts off their plate, snacking in secret, and wondering why your jeans feel tighter even though you’ve “been good.”

Sound familiar?

You are so not alone.

And here’s the real kicker: You’re not broken. Your willpower isn’t weak. You’re just stuck in a toxic cycle that treats food like a fight.

Somewhere between the diet culture, wellness influencers, and “clean eating” obsession, we’ve been taught that food is a test of character.

If you eat salad, you’re disciplined. If you eat chips, you’ve failed. If you crave chocolate, you must lack self-control. (Heaven forbid you eat it and enjoy it, right?)

But here’s what I want you to know: Food is not a moral issue. You’re not a good or bad person depending on what’s on your plate.

Let that land for a second. Because for so many women—especially those in their 40s, juggling work, kids, partners, ageing parents, and the mental load of everything—food has become just another thing to “get right.”

And honestly? It’s exhausting. It’s demoralising. And it’s not how we’re meant to live.

🧠 Why This Keeps Happening

You don’t need another lecture on carbs or macros. What you need is a fresh lens—a new way of thinking about food that sets you free instead of locking you in a guilt-and-restriction prison.

So, let’s break this down:

• You crave sugar at 3pm? Your body’s likely crying out for energy because breakfast and/or lunch didn’t hit the spot—or you skipped one of them entirely (again).

• You snack all night? You’re probably undernourished, overtired, or emotionally wrung out.

• You feel “out of control” around food? Chances are, your body is in survival mode after years of dieting and mixed messages.

See? This isn’t about willpower. It’s about biochemistry, stress, and learned behaviour.

When your body is fed inconsistently, or not given the fuel it truly needs, it doesn’t trust you. So, it stores fat, sends wild cravings, and puts you on edge. It’s trying to protect you—not sabotage you.

But once we ditch the food guilt and rebuild that trust, everything changes.

🍳 Enter: Nourishment Over Restriction

The women I work with inside my Total Body Confidence Method are always shocked by how quickly their relationship with food shifts once they start eating real, balanced meals without restriction.

No calorie counting. No food shame. Just food that makes sense for their bodies and their real lives.

They go from: 

📍“I can’t be trusted with carbs” → to “Oh wow, I’m full and satisfied and not thinking about snacks constantly.” 

📍“I’ll just start again Monday” → to “One meal doesn’t derail me—I just keep going.” 

📍“Food is my weakness” → to “Food is how I care for myself now.”

It’s a total reframe. And yes, it takes time and support. But it’s worth it. Because when food becomes your ally—not your enemy—you get your life back.

You get energy. You get freedom. You get to enjoy your meals again (and yes, that includes chocolate, occasionally).

💭 A Few Thoughts to Chew On

Next time you’re tempted to beat yourself up over what you ate (or didn’t), try this instead:

✔ Ask yourself: Was I actually hungry? Was I stressed, tired, or just needing a break?

✔ Remind yourself: My body is doing its best with what it’s given.

✔ Say this aloud: “I choose nourishment—not punishment.”

Because that’s what this journey is really about—learning to work with your body, not against it.

And just between us? You don’t need another crash diet or 6-week shred. You need a plan that honours your hormones, your hunger, and your hectic life.

That’s what I teach. That’s what I live. And that’s what you deserve.

💛 Final Word

If you’ve been stuck in the all-or-nothing loop with food for years, I want you to know: There is a way out. It’s not another detox or weight loss tea (ugh). It’s about retraining your body and mind to see food as fuel, not a fight.

Because when you’re well-fed, you’re well-equipped. And when you stop waging war with your plate, that’s when real change begins.

P.S. Ready to step off the food guilt rollercoaster and start feeling calm and confident again? I’ve got a seat for you inside the Total Body Confidence Method. You bring the curiosity—I’ll bring the personal Metabolic Balance plan, recipes, mindset shifts, and warm support.

No starving. No shaming. No war.

Just real food. Real women. Real results.

If you would like to chat about my program, please book your free call here: www.zestnutrition.org/appointments

If you would like to dip your toe into the Metabolic Balance Lifestyle, then my Metabolism Makeover program is on special for $57. Check it out here: https://l.bttr.to/8iBRd

Creating the best version of you

Zita Dixon