Are you ready for a change?
If you’re anything like me, you have embarked on countless
weight loss endeavors. I would start with high hopes. I’m GOING to do it this
time. No matter what! I’ll just FORCE myself! I am sick and tired of holding in
my stomach, pulling up my jeans at just the right angle so they flatter me
while I look in this mirror. I am sick of having to shop on the plus side of
the store. I am sick of being snickered at in public when I bend over. Sigh, I
always started with the best of intentions. I really did think with enough grit
and grit alone I would be successful.
I would buy magazines
with diet tips in them, look over the diets and find the recipes too time
consuming, or the food unappealing, or irritatingly wasteful. ( Seriously 3/4th
of an avocado? Who does that?) However,
remember I said I was going to do this at all cost so I’d hang my head with
resignation and start yet another diet I really had no interest in. Unsurprisingly
after about 3 weeks or so, I would find myself right back in the very same
eating habits I started with. I did this because my old eating habits were the
easy habits. They were the comforting habits I had developed over the years.
The truth is, no matter what you’re doing (regardless of
grit) if it makes you miserable and you do not feel like you’re getting anything
out of it…You’re not going to continue to do it for long. Stop looking for diet
shortcuts. I myself had to come to this hard realization. Seriously, if there
was really a miracle diet where you could eat whatever you wanted, in whatever quantity
you wanted, and remain healthy don’t you think EVERYONE would know about it?! Heck,
I myself would be at Gigi’s Cupcakes faster than you can say ‘Careful, don’t
eat the wrapper too!’
This is why taking the time to analyze your eating habits,
define what your goals are, and preparing to meet your goals are such great
ideas!
Why do you want to change?
Please take some time here. Write out on paper, why you
would like to change. Maybe your motivation is to become healthier, or to
change the way you look, maybe your motivation is to sleep better and have more
energy during the day. Whatever it is, be honest and write them out. Post it
where you will see it.
Analyzing your eating habits:
When are you hungry? Why are you eating? Are you eating too
much? Are you not eating enough? Are you only eating when no one is looking? That
last one was a personal favorite of mine. I can’t believe I am about to admit
this, but one time in college, I ate an entire three lbs tub of white chocolate
macadamia nut cookie dough with nothing but a spoon over a three day period.
Entertainment eating:
How much of a toll is entertainment eating taking on your
budget? This is something most people do not realize what a huge impact it has
on their budget. Sure it’s only $5 here, $7 here, $2.24 at a gas station here,
but it adds up very quickly.
Really put some thoughts into each of these questions. Most
importantly, be honest with yourself. It will make it easier to form your own
plan of attack once you know what you’re fighting.
See you next time.
