Guest Author - Lori Phillips
Everyone knows that losing weight is tough, except for thin people. They keep slender naturally, and not only due to good genes and a fast metabolism.
Skinny people think thin. You can think thin thoughts, too, and lose weight better than ever. We all know that to drop the pounds, one must exercise and eat healthful foods in sensible portions. All the diet programs are some spin-off of this dietary bottom-line. Yet, most dieters don’t break their fat loss-gain cycle because they haven’t worked on the brain game side of weight management.
What, why and how we eat is determined largely by our beliefs and attitudes toward food. For many of us, food is not merely sustenance but feelings that are attached to everything from jubilation and reward to comfort and self-worth. Food becomes ways for us to self-medicate emotional wounds as well as to celebrate life. Food provides good feelings.
This is why dietary deprivation never works for long. It goes against human nature. We need food and like to feel good. But there are ways to work with your brain to learn new beliefs and attitudes about food and eating. Learn some of the thin thoughts and beliefs held by naturally slim people so you can reach your healthy weight level, too.
“This isn’t my last meal.”
Some people forget that we live in an abundant place and time when our meals come at regular intervals throughout the day—whenever we choose—but we eat as though this is our last meal. Remind yourself that you will be eating again in a few hours. You don’t need to gorge yourself now.
“Full feels foul. Light feels right.”
We know we shouldn’t stuff our bellies until they reach full capacity and that it takes 20 minutes for our brains to get the sated signal. Yet we eat on because most of us confuse that full feeling with having had enough. A full stomach is different from the “just enough” stomach. Mary Poppins taught her young charges that “just enough was as good as a feast.” Overeaters become desensitized to that just enough feeling, and they eat until they feel the full feeling. If you’ve ever had that unpleasant “I ate too much” feeling, having to unbutton the top button of your pants and sitting in a food-induced stupor after the holidays, then you know how thin people feel when they eat until their stomachs are full. Thin people connect “fullness” with feeling overly engorged. They like the light feeling of a bit of space in the gut. Remind yourself that if you feel a little space, it’s supposed to feel that way and you don’t need to stuff your stomach to capacity.
“Leftover food? I can waste it or waist it.”
Well-meaning mothers didn’t realize that their generation had to cope with scarcity, but today’s generation needs to know how to live with overabundance. If you are concerned about wastefulness, buy or prepare less. Put less on your plate. At restaurants, split gigantic portions into two or three for later meals or to share. Also, remind yourself that there are more ways to “waste” your food. Tossing it out is only one way to waste it. You can “waist” it. You waste/waist food when you put it into your body when it is not needed. It stores as fat that damages your body which will require costly medical intervention to repair. Remind yourself that throwing away food that costs a few dollars is cheaper than paying medical bills.
“I’ve had my share.”
On the way to being overweight, you’ve enjoyed many delicious but dangerous foods. There is no need to indulge in the same unhealthy foods again and again. You’re not being deprived. You know what they taste like. When someone passes around the treats, remind yourself that you’ve had your more than your share of cake or candies in life. Leave some for others. Remind yourself that if you continue to have more than your share, you will have a shorter life.
“I’m healthy and thin.”
Believe that you are thin. Visualize yourself as thin. When you think of yourself as a healthy, slender person, you begin to behave in ways that thin people behave. You’ll become more active, drink more water and eat smaller portions. Your brain sees what you want to see. Believe thin thoughts.
Repeat these thoughts in your mind as often as possible. Replace any former “fat” thoughts and beliefs about yourself with these powerful affirmations and your brain will begin a curious transformation of your body.
