WEIGHT LOSS
You won’t need to diet if you reset your relationship with food, says health coach Jenny McDonald in her new book, which gives you the lowdown on how to feel fuller for longer.
To change your relationship with food, you need to be in charge – not the diet! So, you need to develop a way of eating that you can adjust over time as you become the expert in your body’s needs.
I encourage you to think about eating for longevity rather than eating to fit into “that dress”. Some health experts advocate eliminating food groups, fasting, or specific ways of eating, but when you are repairing your relationship with food, rules and restrictions are not the answer.
Later, you may choose to let go of foods that no longer serve you. However, the emphasis needs to be on finding peace with food first. When you think of the word “diet”, what thoughts follow? Misery? Frustration? Suddenly hungry? Or is there also some excitement that you could lose weight this time?
The thing is, “diet” is a negative word for those who struggle with food. It brings up thoughts of restriction, being unable to eat the foods you love, not being able to enjoy yourself and the feeling of dread. For many serial dieters, there is security in a diet.
Some of my clients have felt genuine fear when I suggested they step back from dieting. Diets can feel like the only way you can control your weight; it’s like a safety net that you can hop on and off whenever you think you are out of control. But it is the hopping on and off that doesn’t work. Each time we step off the diet, there is the relief of not being restricted anymore. The green-light signal to say you can eat anything. Even if you vow not to do this, yoursubconscious mind slowly slips backintoits old patterns with food until... you gainweight and return to the diet.
ARE YOU HUNGRY?
As aserialdieter, I often ignored my body’s cues for food.I would skip meals, fill up on diet colaand eat small snacks forlunch.Skippingmeals leads yourbodytosend out signalstosay “I’m starving! I need food”. And it is more likely to crave high-sugar foods.
Alternatively, you may be in the “I can’tremember when Iwas last hungry”camp and arethereforenot receiving hunger cues. Think about where in your body you feelhunger. Howdoyou know if it is physical hunger,anemotional need or ahabit? What is goingonifyou notice you want food but are notphysically hungry?Why do you want food?
As you learn to honour your hunger, honour your fullness too.Takea moment to reflect on fullness. When do you eat untilyou areover-full? Is it in certainsituations, such as in restaurants? Is it with certaintypes of fo
