Why do I always feel bad for doing something that is supposed to be healthy?

Sometimes we as humans feel guilty when we do something for us - something "selfish" - and end up trying to punish ourselves for focusing on us. We are told from a young age that we should not be selfish and should always put others first. This isn't always the right thing to do, so when you do something that is good and healthy for you, it may make you feel wrong.

If by bad you mean in some way uncomfortable, well, then it's normal. See, that's why people sometimes stay fat, or stay in bad relationships, or stay angry. It's familiar, it's comfortable. It may not be healthy or happy, but it's comfort. Now for people seeking redemption, those differences in process, like doing something healthy, for yourself, are going to be very uncomfortable and in a way feel bad. It's yet another challenge to overcome.

You may have to drill it into your system and make your mind and body believe, understand and co-operate. It may be a sense of guilt, confusion or a shock from lifestyle changes. I suggest doing activities that bond your mind body and soul such as yoga or meditation. That way you will feel more at ease.

The more proper question to ask is: Why do I feel bad about breaking habit? To which the answer is this: It's what you're used to doing, and what you feel you "belong" to. It requires you to change yourself, and changing yourself has been proven by science to be difficult, near impossible.

There are many reasons why this could be. Sometimes when people have grown up in abusive or invalidating environments they are almost hard wired to think that they do not deserve to do something good for their bodies and themselves, and that may include trying to be healthy. People with certain disorders, such as eating disorders or BPD may feel a lot of self hatred and doing something that is supposedly healthy combats that and they can feel that it's self indulgent. Othertimes doing what is healthy is just out of our regular routine so seems difficult and time consuming.

Maybe you are looking at it the wrong way. Think of the positive aspects for doing that "something". Never feel bad for doing something that will benefit you in a healthy way.

Sometimes we feel guilty for all the wrong reasons. Its not our fault but rather the pressures from those around us. People that we call friends and even family members can make us feel bad about something that they view is wrong. Take the LGBTQ+ community. Many parents are very supportive of their children, but others, such as my own mother, try to shame you into believing that what they believe is right is actually the right thing. Either you are being pressured that what you are doing is wrong (when you are fine and should continue doing that thing - if its healthy) or you have gone past the point of believing in what you believe in and you are now living your life based on someone else's views. Get back to what you believe and you will no longer feel bad about doing something that is considered healthy. I'm not sure if this made much sense, or if my response was not as topical as you may have been looking for, but I hope I can help.