We’re coming into the time of year where every where we turn there are chocolates, cookies, candies, cakes and more. It’s sooo easy to indulge! Then there’s the parties, family gatherings and to top it off New Years!
So every holiday season one can easily gain a few pounds and then some. If I gain weight, I feel disappointed with myself for my lack of self-control. It could take me months, if not the whole year, to get the extra pounds off. And now as I’m getting older I’m finding it more difficult to get it off, it just may not come off at all.
This can be a slippery slope because as the years pass, without even really realizing it, we can gain a considerable amount of weight which can negatively affect our health. That’s why it’s important to keep it in control.
Losing five pounds feels manageable but losing twenty or thirty pounds can feel daunting. You want to nip it in the bud.
So I try to catch myself and say, “Enough! This is not working for me. It’s making me unhappy and does not feel good”.
So I devise a plan….
PREPARE
When I know there’s a special occasion or season coming up that may involve overeating on my part I begin to prepare my mind and my body.
Mind
I spend time thinking about how I feel when I overeat:
- the bloating
- my clothes tight and uncomfortable
- the break-outs from the chocolate and extra fat
- the frustration & disappointment with myself for not having the will power to stop eating
- the effort it will take to get the extra weight off
Then, I make a decision about what I want:
- I do not want to gain weight
- I do not want to feel bloated and over-stuffed from overeating
- I want to enjoy, guilt-free, delicious food that I love
- I do not want to put crap into my body
- I do not want to feel disappointed with myself
- I want to feel good and be proud of myself
A goal properly set is halfway reached.
~Zig Ziglar
Body
I prepare by:
- eating sensibly the days/week/month leading up to the event or season
- cut starchy bloating foods like: rice, potatoes, muffins, bread, crackers
- no junk food or treats
- lots of vegetables, lean meats, salads & fruit
- cut fat: no butter, fatty dressings, anything deep fried
- portion control
- extra workouts
- at least 8 glasses of water a day
So I go into it feeling like I have lost a few pounds, my clothes feel looser. I’m not a big fan of the weigh scale, so I don’t usually weigh myself. However, it can be helpful to gauge where you’re at but use it as a tool not a weapon.
How about you?
Get in touch with your body and how you feel. Take some time to think about what you want and set your own goals. The key is to making a conscious decision about what you want.
A goal without a plan is merely a wish.
Continued HERE…
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