Congratulations on waking up each morning and greeting the day with renewed determination! Perhaps you rise and say, Today's the day - I will make it through the entire day sticking to my diet goals." What a wonderful, optimistic way to begin a fresh day. Ahead of you lies the promise of a new day, a fresh start.
Sometimes though, as experience has shown, good intentions alone aren't enough to overpower the urge to binge. This is where positive desire needs to be coupled with a sound action plan. Willpower alone isn't enough to overcome a craving, the desire to binge or compulsively overeat. What provides empowerment is a predetermined, personalized plan of action. An individual plan that was carefully thought out ahead of time and written down.
Think about it - when was the last time you 'easily' sidestepped a binge or craving? Or 'effortlessly' drove past the fast food restaurant when a craving hit? Chances are, the urge to eat was so strong that it blocked out all rational, goal oriented thought. In a moment of crisis, focus and optimistic intentions seem to disappear.
Believe it or not, the part of you that woke up this morning and firmly stated that today was going to be a success, is still there. A part of you does still want to make it through the day without overeating. Hidden somewhere behind the overwhelming urge to eat is that aspect of you that was so confident earlier. It''s going to be your job to go looking for it and to bring it back to the forefront. For this, you''re going to need some tools in your tool box.
When you're in the midst of a crisis is no time to be gathering new tools. Instead, during strong and confident times is when it's time to prepare your tool box. That way, when you need them they are already there. You'll just have to open the box and dig them out when needed. Use the guidelines below to begin preparing your personal plan of action to bypass a possible binge or craving.
PRE-BINGE PLANNING
Once you're in the midst of a crisis, it's often impossible to view what's going on objectively. Overwhelmed by the desire to eat, it's difficult to gain the perspective needed to seek out alternative actions. It's possible that eating is your familiar way of coping with what's going on. So the urge may be intense. With such a powerful desire to eat, your mind is not going to be focused enough to recall your big picture. Take time now to solidify the long range foundation of your personal goals.
A. "CRISIS STRATEGY LIST" Develop a list of things you can do, or have done in the past, to overcome the need to eat. When a crisis moment hits, you can decide which category or categories of ideas might help you through the moment. Include ideas in all the following categories:
DISTRACTION Ideas that bring pleasure and/or distance from food. Examples might include craft hobbies, walking, cleaning house, planting in garden, etc.
1.
2.
3.
4.
BEHAVIORAL STRATEGIES Options that help you deal with your environment. These strategies might include drinking water to see if you were really thirsty instead of hungry, throwing away the tempting food, inviting a friend over, etc.
1.
2.
3.
4.
SELF SOOTHING AND COMFORTING STRATEGIES Instead of using to food to calm or feel better, what are other ways that you can soothe your soul with? Examples could include a warm and fragrant bath, deep breathing, yoga, peaceful music, or going to the park to watch the trees and feel the wind.
1.
2.
3.
4.
EMOTIONAL NEEDS Find alternative ways to first identify and then cope with the underlying emotion you might be feeling. Talk to a friend or counselor, journal, begin to sit with the emotion, are just a few ways of dealing with an emotion instead of eating to suppress it.
1.
2.
3.
4.
After your list is completed, keep it in a place where you can easily get to it when needed (i.e. purse, refrigerator, etc.). Revise or update your list as needed.
B. PHONE LIST It is also important to reach out during times of crisis. During moments of urgency we often feel scared, alone, and out of control. Reaching out to someone during this time can help to relieve some of the distress that you may be having. It might also help to prevent a slip or set-back. Talking to someone about your feelings can remind you that others care for you and that you are not alone. Below write down names and numbers of compassionate, understanding people you can reach out to. While it may initially be difficult to "reach out and touch someone," it will gradually become easier. The person that you call will be glad that you trusted them enough to lean on them during a tough time.
NAME PHONE NUMBER
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
C. PERSONAL MANTRA
Develop a short one or two line statement that is meaningful to you. Take some time with this one and find powerful quote or meaningful statement that resonates within you. Something that brings you back to the larger picture, perhaps reminds you of where you wanted to go with your goal. When crisis occurs, look up your statement and begin repeating those words to your self.
Examples:
* I have the strength to stand strong for everything I believe in.
* I have the ability to change anything in my life that I choose to change.
* I take complete responsibility for my life.
* Everyday in every way I am growing more and more confident.
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
Beg in developing your own personalized strategy now. Don't worry if it's not perfect or if you're not sure if the ideas you write down will work. It's an ongoing plan that you will revise, and continue to fine tune. No one strategy works in every situation. Take a look at your past successes and begin to note what occasionally worked. Notice also what did not work.
Copyright 2005, Dr. Annette Colby, all rights reserved.
Dr. Annette Colby, RD
Nutrition Therapist & Master Energy Healer
"Opening Creative Portals to Success"
972.985.8750
annette@annettecolby.com
For free inspirational newsletter, articles & info visit: annette@annettecolby.com
recurring maid service Buffalo Grove ..Barriers to healthy diets are placed into four broad categories:... Read More
Chances are if you've stepped foot in a gym or... Read More
It comes as a surprise to many consumers that the... Read More
We have all set them, and we will revisit them... Read More
Are you sick of the hype? Wondering what diet products... Read More
To continue the educational series on your health and fitness... Read More
Many people want to lose a few of those annoying... Read More
In this age being ignorant is like committing a crime.... Read More
Debunking The Ab MythAb training has been done to death... Read More
"Who are you to give me weight loss advice?" I... Read More
Diets, diets, diets... every where you go, anything you read... Read More
One of the biggest misconceptions about exercise is that there... Read More
Finding Mad Cow in Oregon puts a new wrinkle in... Read More
Over the past 5 years, online weight loss programs have... Read More
The purpose of this article is not to scrutinize, vilify,... Read More
Make sure that no more than a quarter of your... Read More
Reducing childhood obesity in the U.S. needs to be a... Read More
As our bodies move from Winter into Spring we can... Read More
Weight Loss Red Flag GuideDespite claims to the contrary, there... Read More
The revolution is here. Weight Loss as we know it... Read More
The Zone Diet as a weight loss program has been... Read More
We have all heard of those new diets, Atkins, low... Read More
Temporary weight loss is easy!You simply starve yourself on the... Read More
Visualization is a powerful technique that can help you make... Read More
Mindfulness is all about paying attention. It's amazing what can... Read More
premium house cleaning Glenview ..Browsing one of the Russian websites I have recently found... Read More
There are a lot of "crash" diets out there that... Read More
Very few Americans are satisfied with their current weights. There... Read More
Some Say I'm Strange. I Prefer to Think of Myself... Read More
Before you even think of taking diet pills to lose... Read More
For a healthy body, it is very important to have... Read More
The importance of drinking water is mentioned in almost every... Read More
The chemistry sounds very straightforward. Human body fat is a... Read More
Have you noticed since your WLS and return to regular... Read More
We have all heard of those new diets, Atkins, low... Read More
It happens every morning when you mosey out of bed,... Read More
Who'd have thought healthy eating could be so controversial? Lunching... Read More
Fat Loss Tip #2) Drink More WaterI know, I know,... Read More
The South Beach Diet works, for most people. Its low... Read More
All the weight control experts recommend keeping a record of... Read More
Having just returned from a week of basking on a... Read More
Do you tend to find your weight increases when you... Read More
Getting to the ROOT of the matter: If the plants... Read More
What is the best form of physical activity?The best form... Read More
If you are trying to lose weight, the holidays literally... Read More
My last article, Make Diets Work, concluded that dieting the... Read More
Some (not so) Silly Diet Tips and Why They're NotAt... Read More
I clearly remember how much I loathed having my picture... Read More
I received a telephone call from a lady last week.... Read More
If you have been eating as usual and the pounds... Read More
Weight Loss |