One of the top things I hear in my coaching business is, 'I want to have control over the food in my life.' I relate to this 100%. It's why, in the past, when I've tried dieting it never stuck with me for long. I felt I had no control over the foods I was eating. Have you ever felt this way?
Beginning a new fad diet can be exciting in the beginning. First, there's the prospect and hope of reaching your weight loss goals. You may be feeling burnt out on the foods you've been eating and you're looking forward to trying some potentially healthier options. After a few days, however, you may find your body is resisting these changes and is begging you for your former food choices. Sound familiar?
I've discussed different aspects of dieting and why I don't encourage it during this blog series. You can read Part I and Part II here. If dieting in the traditional sense isn't the answer, then what is?
Eat Real Food. Shift your focus from dieting and simply eat to nourish your body. Our bodies were designed to eat real, whole foods. Unfortunately, we've become confused and we've felt out of control. Cleverly labeled, processed foods are marketed because we've become convinced that something out of a box is better for our body because it has less fat. Instead of searching for a snack in the produce section, you may pick up a 100-calorie pack of something thinking you're doing your body a favor. When you still feel hungry after eating this low-calorie snack, you feel guilt and shame. What's wrong with me? How could this not satisfy my hunger?
Truth: There is nothing wrong with you. There is something inadequate about some packaged products, and your body knows this. Your body is still looking for more nourishment so it's signaling to you that it's not full, hoping you'll feed it something better.
When you shift to eating real food, you can gain back control over the foods you eat. The reason is your body will, in time, crave what it needs, crave what is nourishing, and crave what is good for you. This is when you can begin to relax and eating will be enjoyable.
I hope you've enjoyed this three-part series. If what I've said resonates with you, please let me know! I'd love to hear from you.