How Hard Is It?
Each day I have the pleasure of seeing clients who want to eat well, control their food intake, and find time to do activity on a daily basis. Others seem to struggle with limiting portions or decreasing snacks, and seem to have ‘no time' to go for a walk or do a little activity. What's the difference in their approach? Is it that one group indeed has more ‘free time' than the other?
Quite simply, I feel, it's that one group of people realize they feel better about themselves personally and physically if they lead a healthy lifestyle. The others don't have the belief they can actually achieve any significant weight loss, but worse they procrastinate. "Today I will allow myself these snacks, but tomorrow I will eat well.” What happens is that they wake up in a negative state of mind, disappointed they ate, disappointed they didn't lose weight and they reinforce their belief that weight loss is impossible.
If we would only force ourselves to realize that today, not tomorrow, is important. If our purpose in life is to feel that we lived life today as best as we could, we wouldn't continue with those negative feelings. So, back to my original question: "How hard is it?”
If we know that we would like to wake up tomorrow morning feeling that today had been a successful day of good eating, wouldn't we feel better? So, how hard is it to have a controlled, healthy supper and a healthy snack in the evening, if it means you will wake up tomorrow feeling better about yourself?
Similarly, if we have the choice of doing something active such as a 20 minute walk at noon, or a short walk after supper, wouldn't we feel better about ourselves than if we spent that time on the internet or watching T.V.?
Today is all that matters. We cannot spend any time fretting about what we didn't do yesterday, and we certainly can't make promises for tomorrow that we might not keep. (We would just be fooling ourselves). Today, have a good, high-protein breakfast; follow that with a fruit and some nuts mid morning. Have a healthy lunch and a good mid afternoon snack, because you do not want to walk in the house hungry in the evening. Supper should be eaten slowly. Remember you are eating to feel satisfied, not full. After that, have a healthy snack. Your aim should be to simply feel good about what you have done; to feel good about yourself. Imagine what you would look like and how you would feel if you could string 30 days together like this. (However, look at one day at a time; many of us become overwhelmed if we think too far in the future). Conquer each day. It isn't hard.
Simplify everything. Eating frequent small meals isn't hard. What's hard is conquering the negative beliefs; the beliefs that we will fail. You will not fail; not if you keep it simple.
How hard is a walk around the block? Eventually, if you keep doing that one block, it will translate into 30 minutes and you will feel wonderful and question why you never did this before.
Do the small things every day, and you will feel marvellous about yourself.
You can do it, just don't ever give up trying!
Dr. Doug