By Muscle Media
When it comes to dieting, far too many people set themselves up for failure before they even start the process. Because they literally dread going on their diets, from the outset they are already planning their mishaps and ultimate failure. Sad but true, far too many would-be dieters plan their first Rocky Road misstep while eating their last bowl of Rocky Road before they start.
Notion
There are many explanations offered as to why we do this to ourselves. But it’s something I see in virtually all dieters. The popular notion is that you should binge on your “crave-foods” before beginning the dieting process. You need to try and get it out of your system. Remember that these foods must be completely eliminated in order to shed those unwanted pounds. “Eliminate” is a pretty intimidating concept. If you are honest with yourself, nothing could be further from the truth. Moderation, however, is a concept that most of us are reluctant to embrace.
Thinking
For any diet you embrace to be successful, you need to change your way of thinking about your personal enjoyment of food. Food isn’t the enemy. That’s something that too few people really understand. Even those “tasty” foods aren’t the enemy. The enemy is your own inability to properly portion the foods you eat. The majority of us either eat the wrong foods, or simply too much food. We do this far more often than we eat the right foods in the correct portions. This is a problem.
Moderation
By not eating five servings of vegetables and three servings of fruit each day, our bodies are deprived of the nutrients we should consume. Our bodies know that something is missing. We end up feeling hungry or deprived. If we were actually consuming the proper balance of fruits and veggies each day, we would be far less likely to feel hungry for “cheat-foods.” We would be much more likely to enjoy them in moderation as they should be enjoyed.
Control
Portion control is another common problem. We live in a society that is used to “up selling”. Super-sized fries and empty calories by the gallon of your favorite cola are offered with almost every fast food meal. You should (and must) learn to say no to these things. Avoid situations in which you may feel tempted to partake in these up-sized orders.
Positive
To be truly successful when dieting you need to embrace a different outlook. Rather than thinking you are depriving yourself of something consider the process of building a healthier you. You’re worth it! Don’t think of your weight loss plan as something negative, but as a positive force to make changes for the better. When you have negative thoughts don’t direct them at your diet. When you feel deprived, smile and remind yourself that you’re actually depriving your bones of carrying around all that excess weight. Remind yourself that you’re depriving your wardrobe of those bulky clothes that are designed to hide the bulges. Remind yourself that you are bringing back the body of your youth. (Don’t you want to fit in “those jeans” again?)
Enjoy
Don’t get so caught up in dieting that you forget to enjoy some of the goodies that Life has to offer. Watching your weight and counting your calories doesn’t mean that you can’t go over your allotment. The goal is to find balance. Learn to portion your food correctly. Indulge in moderation. Incorporate enjoyable calorie-burning activities into your daily routine, and you will be amazed at the results.
Successful
Dieting for weight loss and health is only “depriving” if you allow it to be. If you cannot control yourself, then by all means indulge, and nothing in your Life will change. However, if you can learn to incorporate small treats into your routine in moderation and burn those extra calories, you should find yourself a much happier and more successful than you have ever imagined.