Dealing with restrictive habits and unwanted comments

Author: Sasha 

Many people have struggles with food, dieting, and body image and not just those with diagnosed eating disorders but for me, these experiences began to shape the way I think about myself and my restrictive habits escalated very quickly. I believe sharing my perspective could be helpful for young people who deal with similar challenges with restricting their intake, because even small experiences can have a big effect on how we view ourselves and our health.

A lot of my difficulties started when I noticed changes in my body one summer, changes that I now know are a normal part of growing and the body’s natural fluctuations. Since then, I began to feel the urge to monitor my food closely. I used calorie-counting apps and scanned labels to check how “healthy” or “bad” something is, which can make me feel guilty for eating foods I actually enjoy. This constant tracking can be draining and stressful, and it makes eating feel less natural and more like a calculation. Social media makes this even harder, because it constantly shows “perfect” bodies and skinny “influencers” who act like eating less is the only way to be attractive.

One of the main things that helps me is reminding myself that my body is already fine the way it is. The negative thoughts about food and weight are usually in my head, more than how other people actually see me. Exercise also helps me manage these feelings, but not in an extreme way; going for a run or doing a short workout makes me feel strong and positive without tying it directly to food guilt. Staying off calorie-counting apps also gives me a healthier perspective, since they often make me obsess over numbers. When I catch myself comparing to people online, I remind myself that those images are often filtered or unrealistic, and in real life they don’t look like that.

Another thing that helps is reminding myself that my body shape is natural and genetic. For example, my mother has always been slim but my grandmother has a larger shape but they never worry about calories, which helps me realize that my body is built the way it is and accepting this helped. Remembering this makes me feel less pressure to constantly change myself. Gentle self-talk, like reminding myself I’m enough just as I am, helps me feel more grounded and less anxious about food choices.

At the same time, there are things that make these struggles worse. When people such as colleagues at work, or older women in inappropriate settings comment on my appearance by saying I look “too skinny,” “unhealthy,” or even that “they wished they had my figure again” or imply I should eat more it, makes me feel uncomfortable and self-conscious. Even when people think they’re giving a compliment, like pointing out how slim I am, it still puts unwanted attention on my body. Toxic beauty standards online can sometimes make real-life comments hurt even more, because it feels like I can’t measure up both in person and on social media. These comments can make me second-guess myself and feed into the negative thoughts I already have. 

Overall, what helps me most is focusing on positive routines, like exercise and self-acceptance, while avoiding triggers like calorie-tracking apps and negative comments about my body. If an app could encourage users with gentle reminders of self-worth, provide supportive coping strategies, and avoid making food feel like numbers and guilt, I think it would make a real difference. As social media is so prominent in this day and age, the app could also help by reminding people that social media often shows unrealistic images, and that comparing ourselves isn’t healthy or real life. The most important thing is helping people feel comfortable in their own skin without judgment.