We all know how to lose weight.
Why don’t we do it long enough for permanent weight loss?
My Hunger Games students developed a customized eating plan for their unique and luscious bodies.
They know exactly what they need to do to lose weight and stay at their natural weight.
AND they feel clear-headed, calmer, and their energy is more stable when they eat this way.
And yet.
Sometimes they don’t eat according to their carefully designed protocol.
They’re curious about why they do this.
Why don’t we do what works for us all the time?
Or even most of the time.
Here’s one common reason that we don’t often consider:
We don’t tell ourselves the truth.
We pretend that we aren’t independent, strong, and rational.
We pretend that we aren’t fully in charge of every single thing we do.
We say things like “I can’t eat this” or “I have to eat this” or “I’m not allowed this” or “I wish I could….” or “I wish I didn’t have to…” or “she’s so lucky that she can…. and I can’t” or “she’s so lucky she doesn’t have to…. and I do”
I’m not allowed chocolate
I have to avoid sugar
I wish I could have more but I have to stop eating when I’m no longer hungry.
She’s so lucky she can eat anything she wants
This sets up an inner conflict, because we really know that we are fully functioning adults who can do whatever we want whenever we want.
We rail against these rules and restrictions we pretend are being imposed on us,
and eventually our resistance wins,
and we behave in ways that sabotage our success.
We eat too much chocolate.
We stuff so much sugar in our mouths that we have a hangover the next day
We ignore our body screaming ‘enough!’
We miss our workout.
Here’s my news for you this week:
It really doesn’t matter what you decide to do.
What matters is what you tell yourself about it.
Stand up in your self-governing magnificence.
Own every decision and every choice.
Even if I tell you you should avoid sugar.
Evaluate it.
Experiment with it.
And then
Own it.
Tell yourself:
I’m choosing to avoid sugar.
I don’t want to eat sugar because it makes my brain foggy.
I feel calm and clear when I avoid sugar and that’s what I want.
Here’s why this works so much better:
Whenever we argue with ourselves, one of us is going to lose.
You know the script “I want that candy – No you aren’t allowed it – But I want it – But it’s not allowed – I don’t care”…. familiar right?
So don’t even try it.
Get your mind and your body on the same side.
Choose it.
Own it.
So that there is never any reason not to do it.
This may sound impossible to you, but I want you to think about the many other choices that you make every day, likely without any struggle.
How about showering?
I’m sure that you agree with me that you can shower whenever you want.
Three times a day. Or never.
Most of us choose to shower at least once a day.
Without any struggle or conflict in our heads.
Why don’t we argue with ourselves about it.
We never pretend to ourselves that we have to shower,
or that these daily showers are being imposed on us.
Even though we’re really doing it for the same reason we may avoid sugar –
because we believe it’s best for us
because we feel better when we do.
Try this way of thinking about your food choices that feel best to you OK?
Love to know if anything changes….