Stay Focused

I’ve started to realize that dieting is more mental and emotional than physical (at least for me).  So instead of worrying about exercising right now, I’ve been concentrating on my thoughts and feelings toward food.  Here are some tips, tricks, and ideas that have been working for me.  Enjoy!

~Sometimes people just aren’t ready to start dieting.  Ask yourself if you are ready, and be really sure about your answer. 

~If you’re not ready to start dieting, but know you should be, try cutting corners.  Try frying bacon without butter next time.  Try eating ice cream in a cup instead of a cone. 

~Am I really hungry?  Ask yourself this before you open the fridge.  Maybe you’re thirsty.  Or you might be bored.  Or maybe you’re stressed and need some comfort. 

~Do not condemn or punish yourself for being overweight. 

~If you fail today, try again tomorrow.

~Set small, short-term goals.  For some people, long-term goals can feel overwhelming, stressful, or impossible. 

~Get a journal and write down your calories for every snack and meal.  Set a goal for the day.  At the end of the day, add up the calories.  Did you meet your goal?  If not, what could you have done differently?

~Instead of emotional eating, write down your thoughts and feelings.  Recognize triggers that make you want to eat.  Try to avoid these triggers.  If these triggers are impossible to avoid(maybe you have a sick child at home that’s impossible to console and it just makes you want to eat for comfort),  try writing instead of eating.  Or phone a friend or diet buddy.  I’m more of a writer than a talker, so I write until I feel less stressed out.

~Recognize what makes you feel better, and most of all, what WORKS for YOU.  Try many different tips and tricks until you find activities that you REALLY enjoy doing.  NEVER EVER force yourself to write if you hate writing.  Make the dieting experience fun for yourself!

Really good tips! I know I’m just not ready right now, which is why I haven’t actively been watching every single thing I eat. It makes me kind of annoyed with myself but I know if I’m not in the right frame of mind, I’ll eat healthy one day and not the next.

Rose Wish - 26 June 2009 07:35 AM

I’ve started to realize that dieting is more mental and emotional than physical (at least for me).  So instead of worrying about exercising right now, I’ve been concentrating on my thoughts and feelings toward food.  Here are some tips, tricks, and ideas that have been working for me.  Enjoy!

~Sometimes people just aren’t ready to start dieting.  Ask yourself if you are ready, and be really sure about your answer. 

~If you’re not ready to start dieting, but know you should be, try cutting corners.  Try frying bacon without butter next time.  Try eating ice cream in a cup instead of a cone. 

~Am I really hungry?  Ask yourself this before you open the fridge.  Maybe you’re thirsty.  Or you might be bored.  Or maybe you’re stressed and need some comfort. 

~Do not condemn or punish yourself for being overweight. 

~If you fail today, try again tomorrow.

~Set small, short-term goals.  For some people, long-term goals can feel overwhelming, stressful, or impossible. 

~Get a journal and write down your calories for every snack and meal.  Set a goal for the day.  At the end of the day, add up the calories.  Did you meet your goal?  If not, what could you have done differently?

~Instead of emotional eating, write down your thoughts and feelings.  Recognize triggers that make you want to eat.  Try to avoid these triggers.  If these triggers are impossible to avoid(maybe you have a sick child at home that’s impossible to console and it just makes you want to eat for comfort),  try writing instead of eating.  Or phone a friend or diet buddy.  I’m more of a writer than a talker, so I write until I feel less stressed out.

~Recognize what makes you feel better, and most of all, what WORKS for YOU.  Try many different tips and tricks until you find activities that you REALLY enjoy doing.  NEVER EVER force yourself to write if you hate writing.  Make the dieting experience fun for yourself!

Hi Rose,

This is exactly why I’m starting the 21 Day Challenge in July on the Monday following the 4th of July. I’m on vacation this week and I KNOW it is not the time to be trying to stick to a diet. However, I also hope to be sensible as I make it through the week going out to eat much more often than is usual.

I figure if we start the 21 Day Challenge on July 1st, people will have the hurdle of July 4th celebrations. Instead of starting out with a potential pitfall, we’ll start on July 6. Makes sense. Thanks for sharing!

Donna

To Donna and Del,

Thank you for your replies!  I’m so glad you liked my post!  My goals on this website is to type posts when I feel like eating more, and to help people who are struggling with dieting.  It’s a great idea to start dieting when you’re ready and when the time is right.  I would never try to start a diet while I’m on vacation.  And when you’re ready to diet, you will stick to it, with minimal problems. 

My biggest struggle is the desire to eat HUGE portions.  My stomach must be as big as a 5-gallon bucket, and I’m only 4’10” tall!  I just have to remember to stop and ask myself if I really want to eat this huge portion and set back my goals another 1000 calories or not. 

Right now I’m about 42 pounds overweight, and I’ve been eating 1000 calories daily for that last week or so.  I’m not a very active person, so 1000 calories seems realistic to me. 

Anyway, I’m so glad I’ve joined this community with great people and great posts!  It’s a great inspiration to me to see so many people making positive changes in their lives.

~Rose

Rose Wish - 27 June 2009 07:48 AM

To Donna and Del,

My biggest struggle is the desire to eat HUGE portions.  My stomach must be as big as a 5-gallon bucket, and I’m only 4’10” tall!  I just have to remember to stop and ask myself if I really want to eat this huge portion and set back my goals another 1000 calories or not. 

Right now I’m about 42 pounds overweight, and I’ve been eating 1000 calories daily for that last week or so.  I’m not a very active person, so 1000 calories seems realistic to me. 

~Rose

Hi Rose,

Sounds like you’re on your way to successful weight loss!

Did I tell you that we’re starting the July 21 Day Challenge next Monday? It’s a way to share our goals and have accountability to help us through the process. You might want to consider joining us. We’re just a small group that started in June.

Donna

The 21 day challenge is great. It’s really motivating. I also want huge portions. Portion distortion is always a problem. I use a scale and measuring cup when I suspect my portions have grown (along with my waistline). Keeps me honest!

Jeanne Grunert - 30 June 2009 05:35 AM

The 21 day challenge is great. It’s really motivating. I also want huge portions. Portion distortion is always a problem. I use a scale and measuring cup when I suspect my portions have grown (along with my waistline). Keeps me honest!

Hi Jeanne,

I use a scale and measuring cup when I’m counting calories. With enough practice you get to know what a portion is, but it sure is an eye-opening experience. There are times I easily have eaten three times what I need! It’s sad, but I often tend to live to eat rather than eat to live.

Donna