MODERN-DAY DIETING BELIEFS
Here are 5 thoughts that go through our heads when we are looking at food and trying to figure out how it fits into weight loss. Each of these beliefs just touch the surface. I would love to continue in conversation with any of you who would like to have more information or further discussion!! Please comment at the end! We all learn from each other’s experiences and wisdom, and this is a forum to share.
Belief #1: I Lack Willpower
Dieting is not about willpower. If it were about that or just wanting it badly enough, the world would be thinner. Successful weight management is about change and beliefs.
It’s about cultivating “skillpower.” Good news - the skills required aren’t the classic triad of suffering, sacrifice and struggle! Instead, the skills required are organization, planning and thoughtfulness. (Of course, that doesn’t mean these are easy . . .)
Belief #2: If My Weight Isn’t As Low As I Think It Should Be, I’m Not Healthy
People can be healthy, no matter what their weight or body mass index is. Health has many variables. It is far too complex to limit it to a number on the scale.
Belief #3: Dieting Has To Be Hard
For weight management to last, it cannot be such a difficult process that we feel like we are going to suffer - that most certainly guarantees that we won’t.
In order to effect long-term change, we need to improve the path to where we want to go. Instead of “suffering through,” we need to focus on ways to make living with less food or fewer calories easier. Be more thoughtful and make choices each day that will carve your path to success.
Belief #4: I Can Exercise Away Poor Food Choices
No doubt exercise has a powerful impact on our bodies - if it didn’t, I surely wouldn’t have a job!!! However, when all is said and done, food choices are responsible for 70-80% of a person’s weight, and fitness covers the remaining 20-30%. Pretty staggering, huh??
Belief #5: Cheat Days Make Dieting Easier
Unfortunately, our modern food environment might pack a caloric potential to erase nearly an entire week of “perfect” choices in 1 cheat meal. Not a whole cheat day - 1 meal! OK - here’s a perspective: if you were aiming to lose 1 lb a week, 5 day’s worth of effort would go to just work off that 1 cheat meal. Cheating also makes it easier to cheat more - enough said! Feeling the need to cheat is probably coming from something else being wrong or overly restrictive food choices.