Stop Eating Yourself Crazy
TO BORROWA PHRASE FROMTHE REALM OF RELIGIOUS PHILOSOPHY:
DON’T HATE THE DIETER. HATE THE DIET. This isn’t to say that diets don’t work. They do—sometimes spectacularly well. The only problem is
that the successful results from fad diets and other short-term eating plans don’t last the long haul. All too often, quick-loss plans give way to nasty rebounds. Sometimes the “yo-yo effect” can be worse than the original fat gain. The causes for this
aremany.Researchers are finding there are a multitude of reasons some people can’t
maintainweight loss or achieve it in the first place. Some are based in genetics, others on a lack of activity. No matter what hand nature dealt you, smart eating and an effective exercise program can give you a fighting chance. But you can’t expect willpower alone to change a lifetime of bad habits. You must change your focus by changing your ultimate goal. Think ofit this way: It’s not about weight loss. It’s about health gain. The following 10 nutrition and exercise rules can help you cope with the challenges that are
unique to you so you can develop a long-term plan for weight management. Remember: It’s not a diet plan, it’s a way of life.
1
Change your relationship to food. You may have heard someweight-loss experts say this.What it means is that you stop looking at food as a reward, or a source of pleasure and comfort. Many people accomplish this by reminding themselves that “food is fuel,” meaning that the main func-
tion of food is to keepyou energized and healthy. This is really one of the most difficult things to change about yourself.Whatever bad eating habits you have, they’ve
been ingrained for years—sometimes decades. Theymay even be connected to emotional problems or trauma in your past.You can’t change these things overnight, but you can be aware of your habits and pay closer attention to how you think about food, especially if you consume certain fattening foods when you become depressed or stressed out. It’s about being honest with yourself. That’s the first step. DO THIS› Try keeping a journal of when and what you eat, and your mood while you’re eating.You may find some eye-open- ing facts about yourself that lead to more than a change in eating habits.
2
Body image is not a numbers game.You’ve probably heard this before: Don’t pay attention to the scale. Unless you’re a prizefighter or a college wrestler, what you weigh isn’t important. It certainly isn’t anything to agonize over. If you’re training hard, eating well and gaining muscle in the gym, your weight may
not be a reliable indicator of how you actually look. DO THIS› Simply take stock of yourself in a mirror and the way your clothes fit as a way to gauge your progress. Nobody knows how much you weigh and nobody cares. Don’t create a problem that doesn’t exist.
22 IHRSA |
www.healthclubs.com
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