How Much did I have to Give Up?
I’m not talking about giving up as in quitting. I’m talking about how every time someone asks me what I’m doing to lose weight, they say “Oh, I don’t think I could give up (insert whatever carbilicious thing you can think of here).
I don’t like to think of this way of life in terms of having to “give up a lot”. I like to think in terms of having traded it in for something better. I’ve also learned that there are foods I like now that I thought I hated before. I guess getting all of that sugar and starch out of my system kind of allowed my taste buds to reset to a place where I can really enjoy the sweetness in vegetables that I never liked in the past.
Literally, in the past, the thought of brussels sprouts made me want to hurl. Now, I eat them at least once a week and LOVE them. So I’ve discovered and learned to love so many foods that I was not able to enjoy before because I traded in the carby starchy food for something else. I also traded it in for more activity, for being able to fit into the booths at restaurants, for being able to sit comfortably on an airplane without nasty looks from the person in the seat next to me, for being able to hike up to a gorgeous waterfall that can only be reached on foot and that I would have never seen otherwise. I traded it in for the ability to run if something chases me. Zombies may look slow, but wouldn’t you rather know you could run if you had to? Looking at it like that, I think I was giving up SO MUCH MORE the way I used to eat.
I realize a lot of this is about semantics. But those of you who “know me” know that for me to continue this, I’ve had to do a lot of self talk and keep myself mentally in the game. It’s these subtle little word shifts that help me with that. No judgement intended toward anyone who really feels like they are giving up a lot of their favorite foods. I just want to encourage you to not focus on that so much and see that there are multiple ways to look at this to help you get through the really tough, tempting times.
Happy trading!!
~Christie
If I’m Capable of Change, So Are You
I don’t have any magical wisdom to offer other than as the title says: if I can do it, you can. REALLY. Obviously the change I’m talking about for me pertains to my journey with weight loss, but honestly, the biggest part of this journey has been the mental changes necessary in order to achieve the weight loss and I suspect that may translate to things other than just weight loss.
Getting started was a roller coaster. I didn’t lose as much weight as many people do when they start a new “diet.” I probably overate the stuff I was allowed to have. The cravings sucked at first. But I got through that first week and my body started to adjust. The physical desire for carbs and sugar greatly decreased and the battle that remained was mostly mental.
There were still difficult times. When changing eating habits, you are going to miss things sometimes. You are going to crave things sometimes. You are occasionally going to get some hidden carbs somewhere that could trigger hunger and cravings.
It WILL pass.
Focus on positive things. Don’t focus on what you can’t have. Focus on the great stuff you can have. Hello! Bacon! Adjust your vocabulary to positive things and saying things in a way that gives you control. I’m frequently asked by someone “Can you have <insert whatever carbilicious thing you can think of here>?” I’ve stopped saying “no I can’t have that.” I’ve started saying “I could but I’d rather not.” It’s a subtle shift in language, but it starts to impact your mindset and it’s a constant reminder that you control food – it doesn’t control you.
I know these suggestions sound overly simplistic and you might not feel like you are even buying into what you are telling yourself. But keep up the positive self talk. Keep telling yourself you are worth it. And keep at it. Hard work, persistence and loving yourself will pay off. The hard times will pass. You will succeed. I’m living proof.
Peace,
Christie
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