Congratulations on waking up each morning and greeting the day with renewed determination! Perhaps you rise and say, Today's the day - I will make it through the entire day sticking to my diet goals." What a wonderful, optimistic way to begin a fresh day. Ahead of you lies the promise of a new day, a fresh start.
Sometimes though, as experience has shown, good intentions alone aren't enough to overpower the urge to binge. This is where positive desire needs to be coupled with a sound action plan. Willpower alone isn't enough to overcome a craving, the desire to binge or compulsively overeat. What provides empowerment is a predetermined, personalized plan of action. An individual plan that was carefully thought out ahead of time and written down.
Think about it - when was the last time you 'easily' sidestepped a binge or craving? Or 'effortlessly' drove past the fast food restaurant when a craving hit? Chances are, the urge to eat was so strong that it blocked out all rational, goal oriented thought. In a moment of crisis, focus and optimistic intentions seem to disappear.
Believe it or not, the part of you that woke up this morning and firmly stated that today was going to be a success, is still there. A part of you does still want to make it through the day without overeating. Hidden somewhere behind the overwhelming urge to eat is that aspect of you that was so confident earlier. It''s going to be your job to go looking for it and to bring it back to the forefront. For this, you''re going to need some tools in your tool box.
When you're in the midst of a crisis is no time to be gathering new tools. Instead, during strong and confident times is when it's time to prepare your tool box. That way, when you need them they are already there. You'll just have to open the box and dig them out when needed. Use the guidelines below to begin preparing your personal plan of action to bypass a possible binge or craving.
PRE-BINGE PLANNING
Once you're in the midst of a crisis, it's often impossible to view what's going on objectively. Overwhelmed by the desire to eat, it's difficult to gain the perspective needed to seek out alternative actions. It's possible that eating is your familiar way of coping with what's going on. So the urge may be intense. With such a powerful desire to eat, your mind is not going to be focused enough to recall your big picture. Take time now to solidify the long range foundation of your personal goals.
A. "CRISIS STRATEGY LIST" Develop a list of things you can do, or have done in the past, to overcome the need to eat. When a crisis moment hits, you can decide which category or categories of ideas might help you through the moment. Include ideas in all the following categories:
DISTRACTION Ideas that bring pleasure and/or distance from food. Examples might include craft hobbies, walking, cleaning house, planting in garden, etc.
1.
2.
3.
4.
BEHAVIORAL STRATEGIES Options that help you deal with your environment. These strategies might include drinking water to see if you were really thirsty instead of hungry, throwing away the tempting food, inviting a friend over, etc.
1.
2.
3.
4.
SELF SOOTHING AND COMFORTING STRATEGIES Instead of using to food to calm or feel better, what are other ways that you can soothe your soul with? Examples could include a warm and fragrant bath, deep breathing, yoga, peaceful music, or going to the park to watch the trees and feel the wind.
1.
2.
3.
4.
EMOTIONAL NEEDS Find alternative ways to first identify and then cope with the underlying emotion you might be feeling. Talk to a friend or counselor, journal, begin to sit with the emotion, are just a few ways of dealing with an emotion instead of eating to suppress it.
1.
2.
3.
4.
After your list is completed, keep it in a place where you can easily get to it when needed (i.e. purse, refrigerator, etc.). Revise or update your list as needed.
B. PHONE LIST It is also important to reach out during times of crisis. During moments of urgency we often feel scared, alone, and out of control. Reaching out to someone during this time can help to relieve some of the distress that you may be having. It might also help to prevent a slip or set-back. Talking to someone about your feelings can remind you that others care for you and that you are not alone. Below write down names and numbers of compassionate, understanding people you can reach out to. While it may initially be difficult to "reach out and touch someone," it will gradually become easier. The person that you call will be glad that you trusted them enough to lean on them during a tough time.
NAME PHONE NUMBER
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
C. PERSONAL MANTRA
Develop a short one or two line statement that is meaningful to you. Take some time with this one and find powerful quote or meaningful statement that resonates within you. Something that brings you back to the larger picture, perhaps reminds you of where you wanted to go with your goal. When crisis occurs, look up your statement and begin repeating those words to your self.
Examples:
* I have the strength to stand strong for everything I believe in.
* I have the ability to change anything in my life that I choose to change.
* I take complete responsibility for my life.
* Everyday in every way I am growing more and more confident.
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
Beg in developing your own personalized strategy now. Don't worry if it's not perfect or if you're not sure if the ideas you write down will work. It's an ongoing plan that you will revise, and continue to fine tune. No one strategy works in every situation. Take a look at your past successes and begin to note what occasionally worked. Notice also what did not work.
Copyright 2005, Dr. Annette Colby, all rights reserved.
Dr. Annette Colby, RD
Nutrition Therapist & Master Energy Healer
"Opening Creative Portals to Success"
972.985.8750
annette@annettecolby.com
For free inspirational newsletter, articles & info visit: annette@annettecolby.com
green cleaning service Glencoe ..Good health is all too easily taken for granted until... Read More
What is the link between Hispanics and obesity? Are people... Read More
Recently a woman went public in her online diet community... Read More
There is no need to worry too much if your... Read More
IntroductionObesity is the most common health problem facing children today.... Read More
I bet you already know all the health benefits for... Read More
In a global television commercial just launched (10 June 2005),... Read More
Everywhere we look in the western world we are inundated... Read More
Things get so confusing when it comes to understanding what... Read More
First of all we need to find out a reason... Read More
Once upon a time, I fretted about going to a... Read More
According to the American College of Surgeons, most severely obese... Read More
All Diets Work: No Diets WorkHave you lost weight in... Read More
Cardio Exercise...A huge variety of fitness activities provide cardiovascular benefits.... Read More
As a low carb dieter, you have probably been bombarded... Read More
As of the writing of this article, May 16, 2005,... Read More
Gastric bypass surgery involves stapling the stomach to make it... Read More
Must We Gain Weight Every WinterIt's that time of year... Read More
Going away for your holidays will also bring with it... Read More
If I collected a dime for each time I've seen... Read More
Many people today are interested in weight loss and weight... Read More
Are you Telling Yourself It's Too Hard to Lose Weight?Telling... Read More
Q: "I'm wondering if you can help me. I'm not... Read More
New studies suggested once again that citric fruits including oranges,... Read More
It has been 15 years since I was diagnosed with... Read More
house cleaning company Bannockburn ..Weight loss can be a difficult goal to achieve. Some... Read More
"Who are you to give me weight loss advice?" I... Read More
In March 2003 our then 13 year old daughter, Helen,... Read More
One of the biggest misconceptions about exercise is that there... Read More
Glycemic index ranks different carbohydrate foods depending on their potential... Read More
This is the second article in the series, Weight Loss... Read More
Many people want to lose a few of those annoying... Read More
Losing weight on hips and thighs has always been a... Read More
As a weight loss coach I speak will people regularly... Read More
Diet Fads-Forget about 'EmAnother fad "best diet" bites the dust.... Read More
Body wraps can help tone and tighten the skin, improve... Read More
The most recent shocking news related to Atkins diet UK... Read More
Are you tired of getting the same old advice when... Read More
Natural Weight Loss Is PermanentOnly natural weight loss can be... Read More
Just one more day I can do this, I told... Read More
Q: "I'm wondering if you can help me. I'm not... Read More
Many patients of gastric bypass report feeling fearful of succeeding... Read More
Every regime has its supply of useless folk lore and... Read More
The Secrets have been in our family recipes, some even... Read More
I bet you already know all the health benefits for... Read More
It's agreed that if you raise the amount of calories... Read More
When Instant Results Take TimeYesterday I decided to "get back... Read More
The best exercises for quick weight loss in my opinion... Read More
Dieting and Exercising ? Results all the time!To be successful... Read More
Cardio Exercise...A huge variety of fitness activities provide cardiovascular benefits.... Read More
Weight Loss |