False Simplicity
I recently saw an ad for a weight loss program on social media that said “cut down on sugar, eat real food, and try not to have too many processed carbs.”
This is sound advice, and advice I give clients. But don’t you already KNOW this? Haven’t you been hearing this for years now? So what is my problem with it? It reinforces the idea that if you just do these three, seemingly simple things, you will lose weight, be healthier, and live happily ever after.
NO! Following these guidelines can be a starting point for you to change your eating habits but without working on why you overeat, why you use food to cope, and why it is so darn hard to “cut down on sugar” you will not have long term success. Furthermore, not being able to follow this advice leads to feelings of failure, frustration, and powerlessness.
Here are the obstacles I have experienced personally, and have seen others struggle with when it comes to following these seemingly simple rules:
Food often stands in for fun, solace, friends, love, connection, meaning, and relaxation. It substitutes for a lack of balance in other parts of our lives, and until we recognize and address that, we are unlikely to have long term success.
Each of us tend to be our own worst enemies, and we need to become our own best cheerleaders. We need to applaud and congratulate ourselves for every tiny bit of progress and change. We must be vigilant and on the lookout for our own hyper critical voice telling us that it is not enough.
Changing long standing habits that have served us (even when we KNOW we need to change them) can be really uncomfortable and takes much longer than we think it will. And, it can bring us face to face with information about ourselves or our lives that we rather not have, but if we face it, transformational change is our reward.
We need to be willing to use trial and error. To think like scientists taking the time and effort to determine what works best for us.
Food is everywhere. Advice is conflicting. All or nothing thinking is prevalent. Quick and easy “solutions” are a dime a dozen. It is not your imagination - on the one hand our culture tells us that weight loss can be quick and easy and simultaneously markets food and alcohol in a way that encourages overconsumption and numbing out.
We are stressed, sleep deprived and sedentary. All of these states affect our food choices and our long term health so addressing them is required as well.
Are you willing to work for what you want and stick with it in the face of setbacks? To tell yourself you are doing a great job? To shift your environment in a small way so that it better supports your goals? I believe in you - take a tiny step in the right direction this week.
Next Week: 10 Small Changes
