Another problem with going on a diet is that it's not just about eating differently. It's about changing my relationship with food. On reflecting on the various reasons that I overeat, I see that I eat when I feel down, I eat to have fun, I eat when I'm angry... I use food for entertainment, enjoyment, soothing and comfort. And I don't care what anyone says, as much as I love carrots, they don't have the same kick that a nacho chip covered in melted cheese and washed down with cola has!
If fear of failure is a biggie in my resistance to dieting, this is gigantic. I know that to make lasting changes in my relationship with food, not just temporary ones. If I don't want to fail yet again. I have to change this. Which means learning to find fun, comfort, entertainment and soothing from somewhere else.
A big part of this is how introverted I am. I have a rewarding but demanding job, I am busy with my wonderful toddler, and at the end of the day, I recharge by withdrawing into myself, watching tv or wasting time on the computer. Inevitably, this includes munching on a sweet or fatty snack.
So I think that what I need to do to really address this problem is to learn to have fun, to find things that I enjoy. This is a big part of that whole life part of the whole life diet. Learning to recreate my life in a way that food, weight loss and the associated habits are NOT central aspects of my daily world.
I could really relate to this post. I eat fairly healthy, but still too much junk on a regular basis, which is a hard habit to break. I'm trying to think in terms of baby steps, as in having 1/2 the can of Coke, instead of the full can, or having a healthy snack and then the potato chips (hoping that I'll eat less of them).
ReplyDeleteI like the 1/2 can of coke idea, that's a major crutch for me and a big problem. I think finding ways to reduce rather than restrict is a possible first step.
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