I had convinced myself that after having children that “I” Natalie, the individual, had ceased to exist. I accepted that I would have to enter an era of Mom jeans, Mom hair (ok, I hadn’t gotten here yet, but it was tempting to chop it all off so I didn’t have to “get ready” anymore), and bye-bye to any type of fashionable swim suit.
I had gotten to a point where I had an excuse for everything dealing with food too. If I was stressed, I would snack. If my girls had a snack (and you know kids snack ALL the time!), I would indulge too, and my second year of teaching, I snacked every time I was home grading or any time there was a school event of pizza or donuts, it would be SO rude for me to not participate. I had lost all control or maybe never had it in the first place.
You absolutely DO NOT have to deprive yourself of food choices. But the question you have to ask yourself is if you are in control of your food choices....OR is food controlling you?
Here is a great quiz to take: http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/what-kind-eater-are-you
It cannot be changed overnight because our minds have years of practice playing tricks on us, but it can be done with small changes daily. I love Jimmy Johns and a sandwich is 200-300 less calories without mayo – sounds easy enough, right? I use natural vanilla creamer now or honey and it’s still delicious! I use unsweetened almond milk in my daily shakeology because it’s 100 less calories than milk. If you take small steps with meals and snacks, it’s amazing how you can overcome your mental habits!
I think that is why so many fitness programs and “diets” fail because we think we have to change everything about our life, nutrition and habits in one sweep. If we completely deprive ourselves of an indulgence, we usually end up binging and justifying it by calling it another crazy diet that was bound to fail anyways.
It has to start with working on the years of mental walls that we have built up. This is still a daily challenge for me and to also carry out a positive state of mind in all aspects of my life, but it can be done. Germans believe that to truly be happy you have to create a sound body, but also sound mind. (The Greeks too) They have to go hand in hand to create a balance in your life. I think this sounds like a pretty good formula for life.
One meal at a time. One day at a time. One change at a time. This will equal LIFE CHANGES that last. I promise.
Here is a great quiz to take: http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/what-kind-eater-are-you
It cannot be changed overnight because our minds have years of practice playing tricks on us, but it can be done with small changes daily. I love Jimmy Johns and a sandwich is 200-300 less calories without mayo – sounds easy enough, right? I use natural vanilla creamer now or honey and it’s still delicious! I use unsweetened almond milk in my daily shakeology because it’s 100 less calories than milk. If you take small steps with meals and snacks, it’s amazing how you can overcome your mental habits!
I think that is why so many fitness programs and “diets” fail because we think we have to change everything about our life, nutrition and habits in one sweep. If we completely deprive ourselves of an indulgence, we usually end up binging and justifying it by calling it another crazy diet that was bound to fail anyways.
It has to start with working on the years of mental walls that we have built up. This is still a daily challenge for me and to also carry out a positive state of mind in all aspects of my life, but it can be done. Germans believe that to truly be happy you have to create a sound body, but also sound mind. (The Greeks too) They have to go hand in hand to create a balance in your life. I think this sounds like a pretty good formula for life.
One meal at a time. One day at a time. One change at a time. This will equal LIFE CHANGES that last. I promise.
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