The very thought of the word "diet" sends most of us into a state of defiance. The actual definition of diet, however, is simply the types of food that a person habitually eats. Why do we have such a negative connotation, then, with this word? Society has transformed this word into something that is almost seen as a punishment for many people.
"I haven't been good with food, so now have must go on a diet as a consequence." This is a dangerous view because going on a diet as a consequence is a choice. We can choose whether to punish ourselves or not. When given a choice, very few will choose to self-inflict a punishment. Therefore, many people go through life resisting going on a diet because it just isn't worth the consequence of giving up control. Ouch, that hit a nerve. There are so many things in this world that we cannot control, but it is part of our very nature to want to have control. So, when it comes to food, we like to feel like that extra slice of pizza is ok, because it was our choice to control. So, how do we change this mindset into one that allows us to live healthier lives without giving up control? As Dr. Henry Cloud says, "We change our behavior when the pain of staying the same becomes greater than the pain of changing." We have to change our perspective of what it means to be healthy. It isn't about living on a diet and giving up control. It is about taking control and living the life we were meant to live. How many times have you eaten a meal and immediately regretted the choice? How many times have you felt sick from eating to much? Have you ever eaten a meal to feel better after a rough day and it fixed the problem? I'm guessing these questions are hitting pretty close to home for most of you reading this article. Flip those questions around and see the flip side. Have you ever eaten a healthy meal that actually made you feel better about yourself? Have you ever eaten a lighter portion and thought, "wow, I'm actually pretty full even though I didn't eat as much as usual"? Now, let me ask you this, have you ever regretted a workout? Have you ever exercised and immediately thought to yourself, "Man, I wish I hadn't just ran those two miles." Or even better, "My muscles look so filled out after that workout, I wish they would shrink back down to normal size." We are designed to eat good foods and exercise. Plain and simple. I'm not saying start a crash diet today. I'm simply saying take control of your health and make better choices. They are, after all, your choices. You choose to eat healthy. You choose to exercise. You choose to be happy about the way you look and feel. What are the side effects of eating poor and not exercising? Your clothes are tight, your feet and back hurt, you don't sleep well, you don't like the way you feel, you don't like the way you look, you obsess about food, you don't enjoy activities as much, you have low energy, etc. What are the side effects of eating healthy and exercising? You feel better, you sleep well, your memory and ability to think becomes sharper, your clothes loosen which makes you feel more confident, your stress level lowers, you start enjoying going outside more, you have more energy, and the list goes on and on. In conclusion, don't look at a diet as a consequence. Look at it as the best personal choice you will ever make. Do it for yourself, not other people. You deserve to be the best version of yourself. God made you the way you are because that is exactly who he wanted you to be. The punishment isn't going on a diet, the punishment is living out of control and refusing to let your true self shine. So, call it a diet or call it a lifestyle, the point is to just treat yourself with the care you deserve. You will be amazed at how much you will like the version of yourself that will emerge!
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Starting is the toughest part of any new journey. Whether you are starting a trip, starting a new career, or starting a new fitness path, we tend to over think and over complicate these beginnings. When it comes to fitness, we focus on the right time, the right clothes, the right gym, the right everything. The problem is that there is never a perfect time, but anytime is the right time to begin. However, the longer you wait to start, the longer you will begin seeing results. Time will pass whether you start or not, so why wait? If I told you that in 1 year you could feel better, sleep better, look better, and be more confident in your daily life, why would you turn that down? Anything in life worth having takes work and intentionality in your daily decision making. Instead of waiting to find the perfect scenario where it is ok to give yourself permission to be a better version of yourself, just begin with one small step. That can be as simple as choosing to only drink water for a day, going for a walk after dinner, or making better choices on how much food you put on your plate. The point is that you begin today. Stop waiting for something to happen, and just make it happen! You are in control of your own path. I can't make you choose to start walking down a better path, but I am willing to support you as you take that first step. I know you can do it, or I wouldn't waste my time writing this post. You are awesome, you can do it, you will do it and it begins now! Ready...set...go...
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AuthorJoshua Clemmer ArchivesCategories |