There are
countless factors in play when it comes to how we eat. Making a change to diet
or lifestyle can be daunting; so much so, in fact, that most of us elect to
remain inactive, opting for ease and familiarity rather than challenge or
change.
For many, the
desire to make a change is rooted in “what things will be like” on the other
side. Inaction is the paralyzing fear that the sacrifice, the work, the effort
won’t be worth it. That we will fail, or worse, miss out on something good —
and that won’t be worth it either.
If these
worries are holding you back, consider instead the impact of making this change
across our entire life. What will making this change mean for you? What will
you gain from it?
Do you want
to lose 10 pounds? Do you want more energy? Do you want to prevent disease? Do
you want to be able to run up the stairs or pick up your kids or finally rid
yourself of digestive upset? You can. You just need that ONE CLEAR REASON in
mind to push you forward. What will that change mean for you? What will it add
to your life? Moments of envy, frustration, doubt, or desire will be far more
bearable when we have a big-picture motivator to keep us moving in the
direction we intend.
In my
practice, I work a great deal with people looking to overcome emotional eating
and rebuild their relationship with food. Changing food habits means we need to
get in touch with why we eat the way we do. This means considering why we
associate certain foods with certain situations, looking at the connection
between food and mood, and tuning into the signals our bodies provide. It can
be overwhelming. There is a lot of information there, both physically and
emotionally. When we start to look closely at our choices – really give
ourselves space to think about why we make the ones we do – we begin to find
opportunities hidden in our patterns that will permit us to break through. The
key is taking a step off the ledge, acknowledging that we wish to make a
change, and choosing to actively do so.
Keeping that
goal in the forefront provides constant motivation and a rubric against which
we can assess our choices: is this in line with where I want to go and who I
want to be? Will this choice guide me closer to that goal? Know that you can
make any change you want to, and that your reasons for doing so are valid,
strong, and impactful.
If you’re
looking for a clear place to start, these five ideas may help to stay motivated
when it comes to making changes to your food patterns:
- identify
your trigger foods: these are the things you can’t turn down and the ones that
usually leave you feeling less than great. Start to make the connection between
mind, body, and food.
- find
substitutions you enjoy: the more good stuff there is in your diet – and your
life in general – the less room there is for the more undesirable stuff. ‘Crowd
out’ foods that don’t fuel your body with a variety of ones that do (and ones
you enjoy).
- keep your
big picture goal in mind: post it somewhere you will see it often (perhaps the
wallpaper on your smartphone)
- don’t
deprive yourself: when you choose to partake in a treat, allow yourself to
enjoy it fully.
Guilt only
exacerbates feelings of deprivation – and that’s not what we’re after!
Flexibility and balance will serve you far more effectively.
- surround
yourself with people and situations that support you: again, ‘crowd out’
negativity with as much positive energy as you can find. How do these
interactions nourish you in ways food cannot?
- be open to
new things: embrace adventure and exploration with your food.
- remember
that there is not one diet that works for everyone: be open to tapping into
your body’s intuition. It will tell you what it needs.
Every action
begins with two decisions: the decision to act, and the decision to act in a
specific way. Set that big-picture intention, keep it in mind, and let it guide
the decisions you make. Then let things unfold as they will and revel in how
great you feel for doing it.
Guest post provided by Amy
Height.
Amy is a Holistic Health Coach and
founder of From the Ground Up Wellness. She works with individuals and families
looking to reestablish their relationship with food and build a strong
foundation of lasting, healthy habits. She specializes in plant-based
nutrition, weight loss, nutrition for children and young families, and managing
food intolerances.
A graduate of the Institute for
Integrative Nutrition, Amy combines a breadth of nutritional training – and the
concept of ‘food as fuel’ - with her own weight loss and fitness journey to
provide motivation and resources to empower personal transformation.
She is certified by the American
Association for Drugless Practitioners.
