“Lose 40 pounds in 8 weeks.”
When I saw the billboard I cringed.
Another new diet.
These types of messages are everywhere.
They are basically saying “you need to lose weight.”
But WHY???
Why does our society constantly push losing weight and looking a certain way?
Most of us were taught growing up that we had to look a certain way.
People even make comments about weight and bodies.
I’ve had clients in the past who really struggle with their bodies because of comments others have made like being “fat” or “you need to lose weight.”
We need to change the way society talks about other people’s bodies.
Other people’s bodies are not yours to comment on.
Here’s what you can do instead:
1) Avoid comments about numbers
Numbers don’t matter. Let’s normalize not talking about calories, weight, and size. These are measurements.
THEY DO NOT DEFINE A PERSON.
Instead of talking about calories, try talking about what food does for the body or how you are enjoying the food.
Instead of talking about weight, say something like “you look happy.”
2) Focus on the feeling
Numbers don’t matter so what do I focus on?
Feelings.
Feelings are not the focus of most of our attention, but maybe they should be.
Feelings are a part of who we are. They guide our thoughts and decisions every day.
Instead of restricting calories and exercising to lose weight, use food to fuel you and movement to feel good.
It’s a simple shift in mindset from loss to fuel.
When we make this shift, we start to feel free.
How many diets have you tried and failed?
I’ve been there. I thought counting calories and burning a certain amount of calories would make me LOOK better.
But what I was truly searching for was a feeling.
I wanted to feel good.
I wanted to feel happy.
I wanted to feel confident.
These all come from within.
Here’s the truth:
NO MATTER HOW MUCH WEIGHT YOU LOSE, YOU WILL NEVER BE SATISFIED.
Numbers won’t make you happy. Feelings will.
It’s time to flip the script and focus on what’s really important in life.
Ditch the diets.
Ditch the calorie counting.
Work hard to FEEL GOOD in your body.
That’s what really matters.
P.S. Do you struggle with emotional eating? I’m running a free workshop in just a few days to help you ditch emotional eating and use food to fuel your body instead of your emotions! You can register here.
