Not Losing Fast Enough?
What happens when you understand the wisdom of a thin mentality, but you aren’t losing weight fast enough?
I understand your frustration.
But you didn’t gain the weight overnight, and you will not lose it overnight. If you do lose weight fast, you will gain it back-fast too.- Your powerful body is programmed to survive and if you starve it, it will send you massive eating signals that will cause you to regain all of your weight and then some.
I always remind you to look at your own personal history, or people you know, to see how true this is.
So as you build your thin mentality, you will have to make peace with slow weight loss.
But think about it. If you lose a pound a week, (if you are very heavy, it could be more) and it is permanent and doesn’t require skipping parties, or buying special foods, or abstaining from the meals you love, the time goes quickly. You aren’t suffering on a diet. You are making a permanent change that will last for the rest of your life.
And that is way better than losing thirty pounds in two months and gaining it back in one- Yea it was quick, but gaining weight back is the WORST!
Having said all of this, here are a few things to think about to make sure you are using your thin mentality:
-As you eat, check in with your hunger level often, “How am I feeling, Could I be done? Do I need more? Does the food still taste amazing? Are my taste buds still singing?
– Remind yourself, “I can stop eating, and if I find distracted by food and the thought of eating more, I can always eat again.” Or, “ Yes I love this food so much and I want to have it all, and I can, just not all at once- I will save it for later!”
-Prepare for those times when you need a little something to eat, but don’t have time for a big meal, or for those times when you stopped eating too soon. Having a little snack, something you usually like (for me it is peanuts) in your pocket or purse gives you the confidence to stop eating at a meal because you know if you get hungry, you have a little something with you.
-Take notice of your hunger rhythms and learn from it! Learn about yourself so that you can take care of yourself appropriately. For example: If you notice it takes your stomach a few minutes “tell” you that you have had enough, remember that! Perhaps take a little break and give your body a chance to tell you that you are satisfied.
Living your life with a healthy thin mentality will bring you weight loss, peace, improved self-esteem and respect for your body. It will free you from obsessive thoughts about what to eat, who much you weigh, how much weight you can lose by this party, this summer this whatever! The war is over.