Quote:
Originally Posted by tefrey
Hi Natalie!
I can totally relate. Big hugs!
What works for me is:
1. The right diet. If you are on the right diet for you, it will be much easier to stay on track. Think about why your previous diets failed and try to find a diet that will keep you on track. And remember: the right diet is not the same for everyone, you need to consider what your body needs and how your brain works.
2. Forgive the slip ups. A bad meal or a binge isn't the end of your diet ... unless feelings of shame and self-recrimination cause you to give up. So when you overeat, forgive yourself, analyze what went wrong, and make changes. Then forgive yourself again.
3. Allow yourself to go (slightly) off plan now and then. I don't believe in having a cheat day but an important part of dieting is allowing yourself the things you crave while practicing moderation. Decide what and how much you are going to eat (or drink) and make sure that you stick with what you decided. One warning though, don't schedule to go off plan very often ... every time you do you risk setting off your cravings.
4. If a certain food causes you to overeat, banish it from your life for at least a month to give you time to detox. Hopefully, in time, you will be able to eat anything you want in moderation ... but it can take a while.
5. Think of ways to make yourself feel good and stay committed. Some people keep a scrapbook of before and after photos, others make jewelry with beads symbolizing the weight they've lost, still others hang onto articles of clothes from before the diet, and put them on to show how much smaller they are now!
Successful dieting is a huge undertaking and it can really play with our emotions. Recognizing that is a big first step!
Thank you so much for all your ideas! The world need more of supportive and dedicated people like you! =)
I have to say though that I am actually a former dieter, in other words, I have left the dieting behind after doing A LOT of work with my beliefs, feelings and thoughts around myself, my body and my eating habits. Nowadays I pretty much eat what I want and what I know is good for my body and beneficial for my general well being.
I lost 25 kilos after my first pregnancy (my daughter is 20 months) so I guess it works
But, in saying that, there's always more to learn about yourself and your behaviour, past or present, that's the actual reason I'm on this forum =)