Chances are if you are reading this article, you have healthy habits and weight loss on your mind. Chances are that gathering information is not as much of a challenge as setting meaningful goals and reaching them. With over 9 months of the year behind us, our Autumn schedules are filling up. Time is short to reach those year-end goals, and we wonder if we'll ever get to that desired new weight.
If obstacles and detours still block the path to weight loss, then help is at hand. Imagine a successful healthy habits lifestyle as walking merrily along a path with a helpful 'Life' toolbox in hand. The toolbox should have more than just willpower in it! Support systems and structures for weight loss success can take a number of forms and one of the most important 'tools' is the firm setting of healthy boundaries. Just as much as a goal is to eat better and get to the gym, important tactics and strategies need to be in place when the time comes to say 'no' to well -meaning party hosts and fellow diners.
It is curious that well-meaning friends and families can sabotage one's best intentions by diminishing the importance of one's diet efforts, whereas other topics seem immune to uncomfortable discussion. For example, if a party guest announces a special condition that requires him/her to not eat cheese whatsoever (or alcohol, or refined sugar, etc.), one can be fairly sure that every effort will be made by the part of the host to graciously oblige. Yet when a party guest openly refuses a second helping or a dessert by announcing that he/she is on a weight reduction program, it becomes open territory for discussion. This can seem very unfair!
What is happening? The tendency of a lot of people is to combine two thought processes into one. The observation of a fact is combined with an opinion/interpretation of that fact. An example of this would be 'Oh, she is wearing that revealing dress, therefore she must be trying to get a new boyfriend.' Or, 'Oh, you tidied up your room, therefore you must be feeling guilty about something.' The list goes on. In the case of the dieter, the reaction of those around us rarely stops at, 'Oh, OK, she's on a diet.' The reaction usually has the second part already built in, such as 'She say's she's on a diet but not today' or '... I don't believe her' or '... but she is rude if she says no' and any amount of interpretations of the simple fact that a small helping is what was requested.
Sticking to the facts, which is not to overeat at the party, helps the dieter and the people around him/her keep it as simple as possible so the joy of being together becomes the center theme of the event. Disarming the opinions, interpretations, and discussions around the fact will be much simpler to do because you now know to divide the entire discussion back into its separate elements.
If Food Pushers are still an obstacle, helpful tips on what to say can be found at SparkPeople and WebMD.
Sustainable healthy weight is not so much a matter of willpower as it is creating supportive systems and structures that automatically arrange success and pave the path ahead before you walk on it. Saying 'no' with kindness and understanding keeps you in the driver's seat and boosts self-esteem.
Tatiana is the creator of 'The 3 Step Mind, Body, and Self Care
Transformational System' for young professionals who want to feel
confident, look great, and live custom-designed healthy lifestyles. She
brings 8 years of health coaching experience to her programs designed
for today's young adults. Her dynamic approach brings out individual
strengths to looking, feeling, and living one's best life. Visit http://www.bodyvisionhealthcoaching.com to find out more.
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