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Turning Off Survival Mode: How a Shift in Mindset Transformed My Health and Relationship with Food
It wasn’t going to the gym that made me lose weight, but realizing I no longer needed to eat like I was still struggling to survive
During my childhood, my family’s socio-economic status was far from ideal, and I was often on the malnourished side.
With my two older siblings in university, our finances were stretched thin. Then, when my father passed away when I was 12, my mom became a single parent, and things grew even tougher.
In many Filipino households like mine, meal variety is a luxury—most meals consist of rice and a single accompanying dish called ulam. My mom often served vegetables and fish as ulam to make ends meet because they were affordable.
However, as a picky eater, I didn’t enjoy vegetables. So, my mom resorted to feeding me cheap, admittedly unhealthy, but undeniably delicious alternatives that I loved.
Eggs and bright red hotdogs fried in reused oil, canned corned beef, and instant noodles became my favorites. Paired with rice, they left me perfectly full and happy.
My experiences growing up illustrate the Affordability Axiom: when money is tight, people tend to prioritize cheaper foods over nutritious and varied ones. This often leads to a reliance on affordable options that may not provide the balanced nutrition we need.
Moreover, this mindset can persist into adulthood, shaping how we validate unhealthy food choices.
That’s exactly what happened to me. Even though I now have a job and enough money to afford healthier foods, I still gravitate toward the cheapest options.
By no means am I saying that cheaper options can’t be nutritious. But I often end up buying a disproportionately larger amount of cheaper, unhealthy ones.
Thus, I found myself spiraling into something I never thought would happen — the once malnourished-looking child gradually gaining weight and belly fat.
How did I notice it? My go-to comfy clothes no longer fit.
