Stop Punishing Yourself and Have Fun With Your Diet!
This is a guest post by Tisha Dotson. Thanks again for the post, Tisha!
During the summertime, I always gain weight. Always. It's a cycle that I can't break, no matter how hard I try to prepare myself during the month of May. But once Memorial Day hits, it seems like everyone -- even adults -- are in summer vacation mode. That means more weekday holidays, vacations, baseball games, staying inside more often to escape the intense heat, and all the food and drinks that go along with them. By the end of August I'm usually so fed up with myself and consistent failings throughout the summer, that I'm able to regain a little more control over my snacking habits and food choices, even during weekends and at "fun" events, like all those bar-b-ques. And yesterday was the first day in months I felt almost like my old self again: clean on the inside, slim, energetic and back on track.
Then I met up with old friends who were back in town, and I accepted an invitation to join them for to a three-course meal at a fancy steakhouse as part of restaurant week. I fell off the wagon again, and wanted to punish myself when I woke up the next day. It was like buyer's remorse, or like I had in a drunken stupor gambled my family's life savings away. I felt ashamed, guilty, worthless and weak. But the more I beat myself up, the worse I felt. My first reaction whenever I "fail" with food is to punish myself with negative thoughts, but scolding isn't going to make me feel any better, and it certainly doesn't help me have a better relationship with food. What I'm starting to realize is that you should have fun with your diet if you want a healthy perspective about food and a more consistent weight range.
By the time we reach our mid to late twenties, most of us have experimented with enough diets and food fads to realize which systems seem to work best for us, and from there, it's relatively easy (thanks to the Internet) to find food blogs, recipe ideas and encouragement to keep us excited about our diets. Once you learn more about nutrition and how it fuels your body, you can start to appreciate different healthier foods more, and may discover that you prefer them over your old junk food habits, since you understand how they make you feel good.
I don't even know if it's humanly possible to gain 10 pounds in one day, so falling off track for one day -- or even just one meal -- means that "failure" isn't even a possibility in that scenario. Little slip-ups are bound to happen, but scolding and negativity don't contribute to health and wellness. What does? Getting excited about getting healthy by listening to your body's real needs and making yourself feel good through nutritious choices.
By-line:
This guest post is contributed by Tisha Dotson, who writes on the topics of medical coding certification. She welcomes your comments at her email Id: tishadotson86 @gmail . com.
9 comments:
Tisha-
Thanks for this post. It IS hard to not beat yourself up when you don't live up to your idea of perfection!
I fall into this trap myself quite a bit. One thing has helped me quite a bit, when I remember to do it.
When I notice that my mind is being taken over by obsessive, self-hating thoughts (noticing is MORE than half the battle, by the way!), I stop whatever I am doing (unless I am driving, of course!).
I take a breath, and take a look at whatever storyline I am believing to see just how valid it is.
For example, if I just ate too many cookies and am thinking, "Now I'm going to get fat!", I will note that it takes MANY instances of overeating and not exercising to gain weight. One time is not the end of the world!
Then I send myself some love, thinking "may I be free from self judgement" as I breathe in, and "may I be happy" as I breathe out. Even if it feels like I am faking it, it still feels good to give a little love!
As far as dieting strategies, I have found that having one "cheat" day per week can help. I will then eat a little less on other days throughout the week.
Some people have had a lot of success with this strategy. But as you put it, see what works best for you!
Thanks again for your post,
Ian
Fortunately I have never had to diet in my life, but I have been around plenty of woman in my time who have. I think having fun with your diet is definitely something that more woman should seriously consider, it can only be a good thing for everyone!
Thanks for the post, it's ok what you eat but the matter of how much calories we use.
The summer is an experience to have!! You cant be just focus just on weight loss 24/7. You will lose sight on living life, enjoying different foods and not worrying too much on did I gain a pound or not!!
Absolutly agree - the worse thing you can do is be strict with your diet, this drives most people to so called "yo-yo dieting".
I believe it is best for people to learn how to cook with proper wholesome ingredients, cook nice tasting food which is also healthy.
The same can be said for exercise - why not meet up with friends and play squash instead of forcing yourself onto an exercise bike at 6am!
Thumbs up
I really appreciated this post. I'm trying to eat strict paleo but gave in a drank a (much needed) beer after a tough run at running group last night. I was slightly annoyed at myself for not being stroger after doing so well for a week but then realized it was a more worthwhile plan to let myself off the hook and do better tomorrow.
eat and have fun
Good tips.. Symbiotics Products
By the way, according to the recent researches of Norwigian scientist, if you forget about your body weight problems and accept your body as it is, you will lose weight faster.
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