* This is not meant to be self-indulgent, co-dependent , or a message of self-pity. I and I alone am responsible for what goes into my mouth. However, compassion and feelling understood can go a long way with weight loss. Phil did O.K., Stephen Gullo probably has written best about the mental game of weight loss. Here’s what i’d like to read someday in a book on health. If these feeling don’t apply to you, I think thats great, emjoy. If so, lets pretend we did read this from some famous guru.
Dear Friend,
I know how hard it is. I know that even armed with all the nutritional and exercise info there is, it is not enough in and of itself. You probably can tell me the calories of 100 different items AND their glycemic index. You might own 20 books not to mention magazines on the issue. As wonderful as these are you may feel extemely motivated for the first few days/weeks only to fall back.
NOONE can say you lack discipline, I KNOW some of you have ate cabbage soup, shakes, and nothing but greens and meat for weeks at a time, NOBODY can do that without truck loads of discipline.
You take care of your children, your parents, your neices and nephews, your spouse, your friends, your workload,.your house. Noone can say your immature, or irresponsible.
I know the feeling, on your way home from work, or in the car after a busy day with children, or just managing life. The feeling comes over you. First its a stirring in your stomach, not hunger… anxiety, maybe your heart beats faster, maybe you get a headache, maybe your mind goes 50 mph.. I know it’s a horrible feeling, and all you want is for it to stop. To feel calm again. You know what works, and what works fast is your favorite food. Your brain is now working against you, it craves this item, it won’t leave you alone, your addicted. The feeling you get when you “give-in” is pleasure. You feel peace again. ready to cope.
It feels hopeless sometimes, because you know the answer isn’t in a recipe, a menu, or a walking program alone.It’s a big piece of the puzzle, but a puzzle doesn’t work well with all the middle pieces missing.
Don’t give up, you can do it. You are a precious person in this universe and this universe needs you. You were created perfect, weight does not change that, but we need you here for a long time. Healthy, feeling good, not beating yourself up all the time.
You can take all the valuable peices of information you have learned and apply them peice by peice. When you slowly, one day at a time replace reading, a walk, talking with a friend, meditation, hynpnosis, a cup of tea, a bath, keeping healthy snacks with you AT ALL TIMES to get you home, or doing anything you love, your brain will stop screaming at you so loud.. It takes time. It takes taking care of yourself first for a while. Above all, send yourself positive messages all the time. If you write love notes to your spouse on a mirror or a lunch box, make one for yourself as well. Everytime a negative thought come to you, about you, stop right there and say, “I accept and love myself anyway”, or just “Damn! I am one great woman (man).” At night, do a little more self-talk, walk yourself through your day, “I am going to work, there will be candy on the table, I’ll want it, but I will choose my fruit and cheese instead. I’ll smell those fries on the way home, but I’ll be armed with some nuts to keep my mouth busy as I drive past, and I’ll feel so awesome after. And boy I’ll feel terrific after a stroll around the block before supper, breathing deep, relaxing.” Practice it in your brain vividly, studies show your rbain doesn’t know the difference between your imagining something and actually experience it. So you’uu reinforce your positive behaviors everytime you do it mentally.
I for one, KNOW you can do it.
One day at a time, you are so worth it.
