It's the beginning of a new week. And you know what that means... time to continue with and/or recommit to your dieting and healthy eating efforts. But what's your take on this recommitment? Do you dread days like this? Do you long for a life without rice cakes? Are you angry that you can't begin today with a Triple-Super-Duper-High-Sugar-Latte? Are you starting your week with a "I hate this" attitude? Or do you realize what a wonderful gift you're giving yourself by choosing (key word) to eat, live and be healthier?
Dieting to get rid of excess weight does not have to equal torture. And yet those of us with a dieter's mentality often approach our need to shed some excess weight with a "The glass is half empty" attitude -- almost as if we're being punished. Or, worse yet, like we deserve to be punished.
Well, let me be the first to tell you that this kind of "I'm a loser" mentality does not actually help you be a loser. In fact, the opposite attitude offers you and your weight loss goals a greater chance of success. And the good news is that this doesn't have to require repeated trips to a therapist and/or a shock therapy lab. You can simply decide -- during this very moment - to flip your mental switch and see your glass as half full (even if it is half full of skim milk instead of a milk shake).
Again, the key word here is CHOICE. Try keeping this word in the forefront of your mind today and, perhaps, every day this week -- even if you have to write the word on a Post-it note and put it on your bathroom mirror, computer monitor, dashboard (or whatever) to do so.
It's your choice to get healthier.
It's your choice to fit into jeans with a smaller waist.
It's your choice to exercise so that you can be healthy enough to walk across the room or even run a marathon without risking a medical malady.
It's your choice to show the world that you are in control.
And it's going to be a lot tougher to reach these worthwhile goals if you're down on yourself or see your plight as one filled with angst, torture and depression.
If you loathe rice cakes (or whatever), don't include them in your eating plan. And if you're craving carbs, then find a balanced (and healthy) eating program that allows for whole grains and other foods from all four food groups. You are in control. And you don't have to punish or deprive yourself to reach your goals. Check out some of the delicious and healthy recipes in the food section of my blog or on other blogs/foodie sites.
Dieting doesn't have to be about 'lack.' It doesn't have to be about 'can't.' Instead, it can be about 'This tastes good and I feel good -- and this journey to better health that I've chosen is worth it.' Why? Because you're worth it.
Take it from someone who used to weigh over 450 pounds -- and now weighs around 175 pounds (and has stayed at this weight for over a decade). I loved food then. I love food now. And yes, even I am constantly having to recommit to my overall goals of healthy eating and maintaining a healthy weight. (Whose Post-it note do you think I took a picture of anyway?) And guess what? I do it without rice cakes. And (mostly) without self-torture.
Out with the old (tortured) attitude and in with the new (supermodel) one. And yes, that's what you are. A supermodel. Right now -- in this very moment. And you can tell anyone who questions your supermodel-dom, that I said you're one -- and I mean it.
Again, you are in control. And you are amazing. So let's all make it our choice to have a kick-ass, glass-half-full kind of day and week together, shall we?