It’s that time of the year again. People start thinking about how they are going to turn their lives around after 31.december. Often without really planning it; it’s more an abstract concept about the future. How many times have you actually succeeded at those New Year’s resolutions about dieting and getting in shape and kept those results?
Most of us are familiar with the white bear effect: don’t think about a white bear. What will you think of? Exactly, a white bear.
That’s more or less how being on a diet works too. Most of us are triggered by the environment to eat in certain ways, or to simply eat more. That’s normal and can happen on a totally unconscious level. To «be on a diet» though will strengthen this effect, and in itself wire you towards food stimuli in your surroundings. Don’t eat this, and don’t eat that. Control yourself. On top of that starving makes your hormones go crazy, all you can think about is food, and suddenly life is about “being a dieter” – your new identity. But is this what you really want?
Those dropping weight at a slower pace tend to keep their results way more often than those going for quick fixes and short-term perspectives. Why? Most likely because they can cut back on their calories slowly, so they won’t feel the hunger you would otherwise feel by cutting a lot of your food intake. You also give yourself time to slowly change, and it’s not about making everything happen right now. Baby steps.
There is a difference between those relying on their intuition and actual sense of hunger, and those trying to control their hunger trough willpower or self-regulation. Intuitive eaters are less likely to be overweight – they eat when they feel hungry and it feels natural to them. Controlled eaters on the other hand are more vulnerable to food stimuli and triggers in their surroundings, like for instance advertising, temptations right in front of them and seeing other people eat. A small indulgence (one chocolate) can more quickly lead to binging, or a what-the-hell-effect. “I broke my diet, now I can just as well keep breaking it for this day.” They often tend to be what you can call “chronic dieters”.
Do you recognise yourself in this? You want this to stop? I think a good start is to not have new-years-resolutions about changing everything. We tend to think the future version of ourselves is capable of doing all these great things, that the in-this-moment-you cannot do. But what’s the difference between now and next week? What is going to change within you? Time will always be now, and you will always be in the moment. Unless you decide to start taking action right away, or at least plan how it’s going to happen, things will not be any different. It’s always uncomfortable to change a habit. You need to do something you can live with. Something that fits you. It shouldn’t be a diet that last 8 weeks and then it’s done – go back to old habits, and start a new diet later on. No, it should be changes that last forever. Stop calling it a diet. It’s your lifestyle.
And don’t be so hard on yourself – enjoy time with family and friends during Christmas. Enjoy the food, eat with all your senses and take time to taste all the flavours.
