Update for December
Drop the Dieter's Mentality
Sure enough, as the holidays roll around, my phone rings endlessly with folks wanting to 'lose weight and get in shape' for the New Year. I cringe upon hearing the words, because, inevitably, these people will fail. Statistics show that people break these New Year's resolutions within one week and few stay on track at all. These people tend to be chronic dieters who are looking for the quick fix or an 'excuse' to get started. I refuse to work with these people and give them a few pointers encouraging them to call me back in February if they are truely committed to change.
Here are some helpful hints for chronic dieters to help them drop the mentality of short term solutions:
- Assess your motivational factors. Ask yourself 'why am I wanting to do this now?' If your answer has anything to do with other people or to satisfy some external factor, forget it -- it won't work until you decide to make a change in your lifestyle for YOU.
- Take a close look at your history of dieting. Start a journal and write down all the reasons why these diets failed in the past and what is different now. Really explore how it is that your lifestyle needs to change to afford you success.
- Forget the food part of 'dieting' and start to exercise. Make that commitment first. Even if it is for just 10 minutes daily. Once you have followed through with the exercise for one month, then add the healthier eating approach. Sometimes lifestyle change is easier if you start making changes in small steps.
- Start a list of all the reasons why you want to 'lose weight and get in shape'. If you can come up with more than 50, you are probably ready. If you can't, then your commitment at this time may not be strong enough. Take a poll of those around you -- ask them why it is they enjoy being healthy. This may help you in your thinking.
Questions/comments directed to us at: fitnhealthy@eudoramail.com
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