Sidenote: Get caught up from yesterday: Are you socially anxious when it comes to food?
There was a Good Housekeeping article I read awhile back which was discussing how to break bad habits. The author struggled with her weight for almost 20 years before she was able to change habits that had been keeping her overweight for most of her life. She had a similar strategy as me, tuning in to her body with intuitive eating. The reason I’m sharing this is because she admitted something quite profound when she said that she had to work really HARD at mindful eating and kept working on it, until her relationship with food and body image transformed.
Aside from teaching and educating about the importance of natural eating and loving who you are, I want to address that losing weight and changing habits is HARD. I have had many comments, emails, and questions recently about trying to eat mindfully but still not feeling satisfied until that plate is “clean.” The only answer I can honestly provide is that eating mindfully is going to take practice and no change can occur unless there is consistent effort made over time.
I discuss Your BEST Self Makeover as a program to complete in a month, but in all actuality, you will not be a different person in one month’s time. People struggling with weight and body image have serious issues that have been developing for YEARS! Why would we expect that to change in a month? I’m just trying to give you tools to start that change, over the course of this month!
These habits can start so young!!
It took me years and sometimes I still struggle, to deal with the body image issues that have plagued me since middle school. Through all my struggles with weight and body image, I would spend countless hours agonizing over food, my measurements, my thighs, dieting, etc. I became consumed by it and an expert at THAT, as opposed to trying to change my detrimental habits. When I met Brandon, I noticed that I didn’t want to exercise for hours every day; I had better things to do! I didn’t want to count calories anymore because my life was about more than that! I decided to put my energy where it should go: to creating a positive image of myself. Did I struggle? Of course. Have I gotten 100% better? No. But am I getting there? Yes. I listen, love, and take care of myself because no one else will.
Happiest day of my life: 10.10.09—>with my brother and childhood friend!
There is nothing different about me. I don’t have some ultimate willpower surrounding my body like something out of X-men. I just decided that this change NEEDED to happen to save my sanity and to get my life back.
When you want to give up, move on, and have all your weight problems disappear, that is when you have to keep the most positive! The more you keep suppressing these food and weight issues, the longer it will take to break the cycle. Wishing and hoping for change are not the same as doing something about it! Make today the day that you create new ways of eating and thinking about yourself!
Get your life back! What is keeping you from being your BEST self? I’m giving you the answers in this one month program; it’s what you do with them that could last a lifetime!
- Don’t forget to Fidget-cize!! Get up and get moving!! Do 30 butt taps right now!!
- List off 3 of your favorite traits. Do you have a great smile? Are you a good listener?
- Write out your emotions after every meal today. How did you feel? Happy, sad, ravenous, guilty?
[...] Ultimately, these philosophies were NOT meant to be a quick fix. They are tools; tools that you should utilize in your every day lives and tools that will continue to build upon one another. This was not a program like P90X, where you will develop a six pack of abs at completion. This series was meant for you to take teensy steps in the direction to a healthy life. After all, our unhealthier habits built up over YEARS, so we cannot expect to change those bad habits overnight. [...]
[...] practicing at eating mindfully. Even though it’s hard to break certain habits, with time, you WILL get [...]
Pretty nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that I have really enjoyed browsing your blog posts. In any case I’ll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you write again soon!
What a great post. I think I mentioned in an earlier comment that I am currently working on eating more mindfully and not eating in front of the television or while I’m in the car. At first this was hard, but each day, I’m doing better with it. Your words are inspiring and helpful (and by the way you look fabulous in your photo at your wedding!). Ironically enough, Oprah show focusing on Women, Food and God was on yesterday and again the same message was shared. Here’s to patience and persistence!
Thanks for this! Mindfulness is SO HARD, and I think sometimes I need the sort of motivational kick your post provided.
i’m so excited to have found your blog!!! your writing is amazing and i love the content. i can’t wait to read more!
and you look beautiful in your picture!!!
Just so you know, you are gorgeous! Your posts have been so spot on especially with me feeling just a tad lazy and just a tad bad about myself. We all need a little motivation now and then. I like how you say you will take care of yourself because no one else will. I’m going to remember that.
Happy weekend!
Your story sounds so much like mine it’s insane! It definitely takes a lot of hard work to change your mentality towards food and more importantly towards yourself. I do still see a warped image of myself every time I look in the mirror…but I’m working on it!
Oh I just so love your posts. Three of my favorite things about me: My eyes, My ability to think before I speak and My total optimism towards everything
This is a great post! I have struggled with my weight in the past. It is definitely difficult to make lifelong changes. I love how you continue to surround yourself with positive people.
Such great points. I love your line that “no change can occur unless there is consistent effort made over time.” We watch tv shows where people transform their bodies over the course of a few months…but what we rarely see is the daily dedication it takes when they return to normal life. Without that consistent effort, they will go right back to the old ways. I think it’s the day-to-day consistency that is the hardest part. Great post!
XO Piper
Recording emotions with meals is so insightful. It’s something I’ve started doing with my patients and it works! They learn so much about themselves.
When I met my husband is when I really loosened up on “dieting” and micromanaging everything. And I am so much happier now! Love this post!
Very great post. I think we always focus on the negative about ourselves so much and we forget the positive!!! It’s always good to step back and keep ourselves in check. I also love the idea of writing your feelings down about what you ate. Especially if it was a mistake, or a binge from emotional eating and so forth.
Great post…thanks for being so honest…and for sharing some great ways to beat the negative self talk/body image!
more people could learn from you in 10 minutes what could take a lifetime otherwise! seriously! ur information is profoundly intelligent, and to advocate a strong message about taking control of our lives and creating as many positive life enhancing habits as possible, is an extremely important message for anyone young or old!
xoxo <3
Great photo!
Great post. I think it’s important to remember that it takes a LONG time to form new habits. I changed my relationship with food and being healthy in general completely about 1 1/2 years ago. But when things get tough, I still need to be very mindful… I love your trait question – great way to celebrate who we are now, right this moment!
Aww what a great photo! And I think it is soo important to focus on the positives about yourself rather than obsessing over the negatives. I need to do an Operation Beautiful note!
I have a hard time trying to break bad habits, and I think most of the problem is that I expect them to disappear the second I start working at them. But like you said, we’ve had these bad habits for YEARS and it’s going to take a while for them to change for the better. I think it’s really important to keep in mind that just because things don’t become the was we want them to instantly, doesn’t mean we’re not making any progress. It’s hard to keep plugging away at something if we feel like we’re not getting anywhere, but the perseverance pays off in the end.
Another great post!
Please share them!!!
I wish that everyone could read your posts! So many woman would benefit from reading such positive and informative posts.
That is so interesting….It’s so important to set the right habits from beginning…Its so much easier like that
Great web, darling and amazing posts 
Can’t wait to read more…Kisses and see you soon 
Happy Thursday
hey, how are you? long time! how funny that I just posted one for operationbeautiful.com too. your site is great! =)
Preach on, I love love your points! Keep up the fantastic thoughts. Butt tapping as I type.
I love this series! I just need to say that. It’s SO appropriate for me right now.
I’ve started leaving bites of food behind when I start to get full, and I try not to let that scare me. =P I worry that if I don’t clean my plate, omg, what if I get hungry again? Silly, irrational fear. If I get hungry again, well, I can just eat again, then, can’t I? Of course.
You are so beautiful, and I love reading your posts. As a woman who has struggled with self-image issues, I so appreciate the positive messages you put out for us, day after day. Thank you!
I love this series! And I agree that habits can start so young and go on for so long that we can’t expect to change them instantly. I really hope that I am helping to set up good habits for baby M from the get go. Being healthy and happy with herself are things I want for her more than many others.
Love the idea of listing favorite traits. It seems so natural to point out the negatives rather than remembering the positives.