Fad diets do not work. Slimming world and weight watchers work whilst you are doing them and whilst you keep doing them but then the weight often returns when you resume normal eating again. Essentially, this is because any long term body change has to come from sustainable lifestyle changes: changes that you can introduce and maintain for always. This is why our relationship to food is so important!
If you have tried to lose weight several times but haven’t arrived at what you feel is your ideal weight or body shape (only you know this, don’t let any person or chart tell you otherwise!) And you answer yes to one or more of the following questions, then focussing on a mind set shift may finally get you to where you want to be!
Do you eat as soon as you are hungry?
Do you struggle to share food or feel possessive over your favourite food?
Do you always eat everything on your plate?
Do you find it hard to say no when offered food?
Do you feel guilty after eating sometimes?
Do you eat more than you think you should?
Do you eat quickly and often without thought?
If you answer yes to a few of these then this may be the barrier between you and long term weight loss. To achieve and maintain a healthy relationship to food and thus your body weight, try to adopt and absorb the following concepts:
1. There is no “bad” food. If you enjoyed a little of what you love then you do not need to dwell on it or promise yourself better future behaviour. Shed the guilt and just continue enjoying life.
2. Food is a joy to shared: share whenever you can. Don’t let food carry shame or eating be something that should ever be done secretly. Always eat as if someone else was in the room!
3. Being hungry is not an international emergency! Remain calm and do not rush to eat straight away, you will not waste away 😛 decide what you are going to eat and sit down to enjoy eating it SLOWLY….
4. Listen to your body and be the boss of food rather than a slave to your emotions. Take control and stop eating when you are full, empower yourself by sometimes leaving food on your plate (again, you will not die of starvation by doing so) and remember the next meal is never far away! You do not need to stock up 😉
These principles are not a diet but a way of nurturing a healthy relationship food and your body. It may not massively change what you eat some days but it will massively change the way quantity of food that you consume over the coming weeks and months 🙂 your body will then start to mirror these lifestyle choices and you will never need to diet again but instead, just occasionally remind yourself of these principles.
Wishing you a happy and healthy festive season B-)
Victoria xx
