Regroup to Renew

I read a great book years ago called “Raising Your Spirited Child”.  What I learned from this book I feel can apply to many things in life.  When you teach your children, you try to connect with them using different methods.  You might try to modify the technique each time.  What worked once might not work again.  The same is true for dieting.  Weight Watchers might have worked great at one time in your life but not now.  Never give up trying different techniques.

What might have worked on Monday might not work on Saturday.   Make specific action lists for days of the week or events.  Play out different scenarios.  What will your weekend strategy be for focusing on your goals?  If you miss even one day with your dieting – regroup and start again.  Arrest the behavior.

What happens when the plan doesn’t work, when you find that you cannot stick to the plan? Write down what you ate that day and when you ate it.  What else was going on that day?  When did you deviate from the schedule or why didn’t have a schedule or plan that day in the first place?  Can you modify your plan to accommodate that situation should you find that happening again?  Take out your goal reminders!  Why are you doing this in the first place.  It will help you refocus and get back on track.

Do you have feelings of giving up – that’s it’s just too overwhelming to think about?  I do all the time.  It depends on what I tell myself.  There are times that I feel physically exhausted just at the thought of trying to keep what I eat in check and keep moving.  However, after over 30 years of feeling that way I still have hope.  I do not give up.  It’s almost as if it is a habit, a part of my day to keep hanging in there.  It’s not a life that I would have chosen for myself or wish upon anyone.

I believe in myself and even though at times I think it would be easier to give up I feel that deep inside I know that would not be fair to myself.  I know that I have the strength to keep going.  I sound so dramatic but that is part of my nature and being someone addicted to food it’s my life.  It has been all consuming.  You might not have these issues and be glad that you don’t.  My point is that if someone like me who is consumed with thoughts of food can do so there is hope for you.

Keep Your Clothes On

I used to take dance class growing up.  The standard attire was the leotard and tights.  I remember standing in line for one of the warm up routines with “Black Magic Woman” playing.  A girl next in line to me, who was also in my class at school, turned to me and said, “you look better with clothes on”.   Yet another moment of mixed emotions.   I was embarrassed that standing there in my leotard I was clearly not the form of a dancer as the other girls.  However, I was also relieved that in public I must hide it well and look “normal”.    Luckily that song wasn’t an all-time classic because the very few times I’ve heard it since, I’m in my leotard feeling rather bulbus.