A brand new week is upon us. And for those of us with a dieter’s mentality, that often means it’s time to continue with and/or recommit to your dieting and healthy eating efforts. But what’s your take on this decision? Do you dread days like this? Do you long for a life without rice cakes? Are you angry that you can’t begin your day with a Triple-Super-Duper-High-Sugar-Latte? Are you starting your week with a mental spanking? Or do you realize what a wonderful gift you’re giving yourself by choosing (key word) to eat, live and be healthier?

Fact of the matter is that dieting does not have to equal torture. And yet often, many of us have gotten used to approaching our need to shed some excess weight with a “The glass is half empty” attitude – almost as if we’re being punished. Or, worse yet, like we deserve to be punished.

Well, let me be the first to tell you that this kind of “I’m a loser” attitude does not actually help you to be a loser. In fact, the opposite attitude offers you and your weight loss goals a greater chance of success. And the good news is that this doesn’t have to require repeated trips to a therapist and/or a shock therapy lab. You can simply decide – right at this very moment – to flip your mental switch and see your glass as half full (even if it is half full of skim milk instead of a milk shake).

Again, the key word here is CHOICE. Try keeping this word in the forefront of your mind today and, perhaps, every day this week – even if you have to write the word on a post it note and put it on your bathroom mirror, computer, dashboard (or whatever) to do so.

You are choosing to get healthier.

You are choosing to fit into jeans with a smaller waist.

You are choosing to exercise so that you can be healthy enough to walk across the room or even run a marathon without risking a medical malady.

You are choosing to show the world that you are in control.

And it’s going to be a lot tougher to reach these amazing and worthwhile goals if you’re down on yourself or see your plight as one filled with angst, torture and depression.

If you loathe rice cakes (or whatever kind of food), don’t include them in your eating plan. And if you’re craving carbs, then find a balanced (and healthy) eating program that allows for whole grains and other foods from all 4 food groups. You are in control here. And you don’t have to punish or deprive yourself to reach your goals. Check out some of the delicious and healthy recipes under the Food Section of this blog – and other blogs/foodie sites.

Dieting doesn’t have to be about ‘lack.’ It doesn’t have to be about ‘can’t.’ Instead, it can be about ‘This tastes good and I feel good – and this journey to better health that I’ve chosen is worth it.’ Why? Because you’re worth it.

Take it from someone who used to weigh over 450 pounds – and now weighs around 175 pounds (and has stayed at that weight for over a decade). I loved food then. I love food now. And yes, even I am constantly having to recommit to my overall goals of healthy eating and maintaining a healthy weight. (Whose post it note do you think I took a picture of, above, anyway?) And guess what? I do it without rice cakes. And (mostly) without self-torture.

No more mental anguish, people. This healthier life is a choice. And the age old saying is true, ‘Nothing tastes as good as being thin feels.’

So out with the old (tortured) attitude and in with the new (supermodel) one. And yes, that’s what you are. A supermodel. Right in this very moment. And you can tell anyone who questions your supermodel-dom, that I said you’re one – and I mean it.

Again, you are in control. And you are amazing. So let’s all have a kick-ass week together, shall we?

Photo Source: My Without Clothes Shopping

It’s the beginning of a new week. And you know what that means… Time to continue with and/or recommit to your dieting and healthy eating efforts. But what’s your take on this decision? Do you dread days like this? Do you long for a life without rice cakes? Are you angry that you can’t begin your day with a Triple-Super-Duper-High-Sugar-Latte? Are you starting your week with a mental spanking? Or do you realize what a wonderful gift you’re giving yourself by choosing (key word) to eat, live and be healthier?

Fact of the matter is that dieting does not have to equal torture. And yet often, those of us with a dieter’s mentality have gotten used to approaching our need to shed some excess weight with a “The glass is half empty” attitude – almost as if we’re being punished. Or, worse yet, like we deserve to be punished.

Well, let me be the first to tell you that this kind of “I’m a loser” mentality does not actually help you to be a loser. In fact, the opposite attitude offers you and your weight loss goals a greater chance of success. And the good news is that this doesn’t have to require repeated trips to a therapist and/or a shock therapy lab. You can simply decide – right at this very moment – to flip your mental switch and see your glass as half full (even if it is half full of skim milk instead of a milk shake).

Again, the key word here is CHOICE. Try keeping this word in the forefront of your mind today and, perhaps, every day this week – even if you have to write the word on a post it note and put it on your bathroom mirror, computer, dashboard (or whatever) to do so.

You are choosing to get healthier.

You are choosing to fit into jeans with a smaller waist.

You are choosing to exercise so that you can be healthy enough to walk across the room or even run a marathon without risking a medical malady.

You are choosing to show the world that you are in control.

And it’s going to be a lot tougher to reach these amazing and worthwhile goals if you’re down on yourself or see your plight as one filled with angst, torture and depression.

If you loathe rice cakes (or whatever), don’t include them in your eating plan. And if you’re craving carbs, then find a balanced (and healthy) eating program that allows for whole grains and other foods from all 4 food groups. You are in control here. And you don’t have to punish or deprive yourself to reach your goals. Check out some of the delicious and healthy recipes under the Food Section of this blog – and other blogs/foodie sites.

Dieting doesn’t have to be about ‘lack.’ It doesn’t have to be about ‘can’t.’ Instead, it can be about ‘This tastes good and I feel good – and this journey to better health that I’ve chosen is worth it.’ Why? Because you’re worth it.

Take it from someone who used to weigh over 450 pounds – and now weighs around 175 pounds (and has stayed at that weight for over a decade). I loved food then. I love food now. And yes, even I am constantly having to recommit to my overall goals of healthy eating and maintaining a healthy weight. (Whose post it note do you think I took a picture of, above, anyway?) And guess what? I do it without rice cakes. And (mostly) without self-torture.

No more mental spankings, people. This healthier life is a choice. And the age old saying is true, ‘Nothing tastes as good as being thin feels.’

So out with the old (tortured) attitude and in with the new (supermodel) one. And yes, that’s what you are. A supermodel. Right in this very moment. And you can tell anyone who questions your supermodel-dom, that I said you’re one – and I mean it.

Again, you are in control. And you are amazing. So let’s all have a kick-ass week together, shall we?