Jameela Jamil Shares Why She Eats What She Wants on Vacation

While going on vacation, spending a day at the beach and lounging at the pool is meant to be a relaxing time, for many, it may be stressful. Wearing a swimsuit, sundress or shorts may trigger body negativity, which can drag down your mood during what’s meant to be a fun time.

For actor Jameela Jamil, this was a reality: she admits she would criticize her body each time she went on vacation. 

“Most of my life [was] spent fearing holidays,” Jamil wrote in a recent Instagram post. “Fearing a swimsuit. Fearing photos. Fearing ‘indulgent’ holiday food. Fearing letting go. Fearing what to wear. Feeling this BONKERS pressure to come back looking tanned and thinner. Not present. Not letting go. Just control and discipline and denial and fear.”

These intrusive thoughts lasted for decades, causing her to delete photos and memories because her arm looked “squished.” And she would skip “delicious pizza” and eat fruit to not feel guilty throughout her time away from home. This recent Instagram post showcases a broken dress, which Jamil explains is from eating what she wanted on a recent trip. She shared she would no longer limit herself and fully enjoy all of her favorite foods without regret.

“My dress burst at the end of my European trip. And finally I found it to be a sign of privilege and pride,” The Good Place star says. “I had done my holiday right. I had hit the buffet just hard enough, without fear, without guilt, without a feeling of responsibility to maintain myself.”

In the post, Jamil reflected on her past self, who would sneak a scale into her suitcase to maintain her “goals” while taking on a different routine. Here’s what has changed for the mental health advocate.

“I documented all of the moments and didn’t dare delete a picture,” she shares. “I really savored every bite and experience and reminded myself how lucky I was to be alive, how lucky I was to have a best friend like the body I have who fights for me every day, how happy I was to give her a rest, and feed her delicious food and not punish and berate her every morning after for daring to be bloated in a bikini.”

At EatingWell, we fully agree with Jamil. Vacationing should be a time of relaxing, eating the foods you love and trying new cuisine. And there’s nothing wrong with incorporating healthy foods and activities where you can, but you should not feel the need to limit yourself to a restrictive diet. All foods and drinks can be relished in a healthy eating pattern in moderation, and vacation is a temporary time to really relax and nosh.

“This is not a post demonizing fruit, veg and exercise on holiday,” Jamil emphasizes. “It’s just a post to beg you to eat the food you crave, and to let go of the control…”

We hope Jamil’s messaging can help you embrace summertime to its fullest. If you or someone you know is struggling with or showing signs of an eating disorder, the National Eating Disorders Association Hotline is available for call or text 24/7 at (800) 931-2237 to help connect you with helpful resources.