05/13/2011 18:58
The Rebel Within
We're so good for such a long time, and then it happens. One meal or one day away from the strict guidelines of our eating and exercise program, and the floodgates open. We struggle and struggle to get back on track, but time and time again we fall right back into those old patterns that got us fat in the first place.
At some level, we were denying ourselves, rather than making free choices. We are resisting returning to what our heart of hearts feels is overly-restrictive. It's time for a change in attitude.
We need to spend some time thinking about how we can accommodate the things we want to do—planning for occasional treats in measured amounts, or finding calorie-friendly serving sizes of our favorite foods.
The truth is, we can go out and enjoy one slice of pizza and one light beer, and still meet our fat loss goals. It will be enough to satisfy hunger. What needs further examination is if we think we need more than one slice and one beer, because that is the problem, not the food or drink itself. We can have what we want in the amounts we need, and we don't have to deny ourselves that pleasure.
When we want to eat and drink more than what we need, it needs further examination. Why do we want more? It is because we feel nervous or bored dealing with social situations? Is it because we had a hard day and are seeking to reward ourselves by overindulging? It is when we examine and resolve those conflicts and find alternative activities to eating to manage emotions, that it becomes a little easier to manage the food.