Sunday, February 3rd, 2008...6:09 am
Avoid This Common Dieting Trap
(This post is part of the How to Lose Weight Effectively Series)
One of the biggest mistakes I see people make when they go on a diet is completely eliminating certain foods from their life. This is an invitation for failure.
Habits and desires don’t change overnight just because you decide to go on a diet. You have established certain habits and these habits will linger, don’t expect to stop having a desire to return to “the way things were”. Habits and patterns of thought take time to change so you must allow time for the change process to take hold.
Let’s say one of your favorite foods in life is potato chips, if you go on a diet and completely deny yourself the pleasure of eating potato chips you are going to be in for frustration and struggle and this bad feeling might lead you to call the diet quits before you reach your goal. There is an alternative to denial and it is choice.
Giving yourself a choice of whether to eat potato chips or not creates much less resistance than denial. Choice allows your brain the time and freedom it needs to consider the advantages and disadvantages of eating the chips. You will be open to considering how many calories the chips have, how much food you have already had that day and how eating the chips would affect your goal of losing weight. On the other hand, denying yourself creates resentment and struggle leaving you with only two options: 1) you don’t eat the chips staying away from them using sheer determination and willpower, or 2) you eat the chips and beat yourself up for being so weak and quite possibly end up binging.
Some people are concerned that if they allow themselves to choose they will always choose to eat and never lose weight. This simply does not prove to be true. When we feel that we have an option we are calmer and more rational in the decision making process. When we are denied something, even if that denial is self-generated, we feel a need to rebel.
So instead of denying your favorite foods as you learn how to lose weight effectively, give yourself a choice of whether to have the treat or not. Remember, the thought of eating your favorite foods does not stop because you declare to the universe that you are now on a diet so stop fighting against yourself. By giving yourself a choice you will be able to rationally analyze the treat and determine how much you can safely have without overindulging or you might even decide that the treat isn’t worth it and walk away without eating a bit feeling perfectly at peace.
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