Food fight! Are you fighting with your food and with yourself? Do you base whether you had a good day or a bad day on what you ate and how closely you stuck to your diet plan. Has your diet taken control of you life?
Our culture promotes diet pills, convenience foods and trendy diets to help us achieve our desired weight. They all sound like simple solutions but they don't last long. Why? Because each of us is unique and there is no diet that is right for everyone or anyone.
My own struggle with weight began right after high school when I was lonely, uncertain about my future, and began to gain a little weight which landed me at my first Weight Watchers meeting. That began a lifetime career of diet and deprivation, low fat, low carb, no carb and every quick diet food that came out of a box. I am sure that most of you have your own story about your struggles with food and may still be trying to find that magic solution to get you to that desired weight! Let's face it, diets suck. They require discipline and restriction at levels that are unsustainable by a healthy human body. It may work for a short amount of time, but research shows that almost all diets will result in a 10 pound gain once you go off of it.
I knew deep down that there was a better way so instead of listening to all the new diet gurus I began to listen to my body. Gaining weight is not only caused by “what we eat”, but also by “what's eating us”. Ignoring and discounting emotions is often the first thing to cause weight imbalances. In our society, we are stressed and rushed, and have so much on our “plates” that we often lose sight of the aspects in life that truly nourish and balance our bodies. Eating consciously and sitting down to a home cooked meal with those we love can nourish you both inside and out.
Balance and sustainable weight are achievable with a few lifestyle changes. Take all the energy you put into the dieting fads and gimmicks and start listening to that gut of yours. With careful thought and reflection, you can feed yourself wisely, nutritionally and get that worry of weight off your plate. Forget that non-existent magic pill and reach for the magic that is in you. Your body wants balance and if you work with it rather than against it you will find you can reach a healthy, sustainable weight while living a life you love!!
Try these three simple tips and make food your new found friend:
Do Not Eat Standing
Eat your meals sitting and consciously focusing on the taste and feel of what you are eating.Chew.
Chew each mouthful 20-30 times. This is challenging but you will savor the taste and texture and naturally eat less.Set The Table
Even if you are eating alone, set your favorite dish on a placemat, light a candle and put on some soothing music. Enjoy your meal. After all, you're not alone. You're with friends.
