As anyone who has ever been on a diet knows, the first few days can be exhilarating. You’re excited about the potential results you’re going to get, it’s new to your mundane routine, and you have a sense of self-empowerment by actively taking control of your body. You think this is going to be cool! And I can’t wait until I get back to that summer dress. I’m going to look so good!
Then somewhere down the line, the diet becomes a burden. This usually happens in the middle of your new diet program. This is an experience that we have all had at some point. Small setbacks or disappointment in expected results can become a great source of worry and we get discouraged and depressed about our weight loss. Then we begin to question ourselves. I am doing it right? What is wrong with me? Why haven’t I lost more weight? Either you tend to blame yourself or the diet or maybe both.
This is a normal response to any diet regimen. It is an emotional roller coaster. The thing to remember is that this is a process that has natural ups and downs and your body will react to your new regimen differently for each day of your diet program. This is absolutely normal and you shouldn’t give up or blame yourself at all. You are taking an important step toward better health, and your body and mind must adapt to these changes that you are employing. Nobody likes change very much and neither does your body. You might even experience a rebellion of your own internal system.
But take heart, your body will catch up and catch up with the program after you give in to the new way of being. Sugar, salt, and fat cravings are probably the most difficult to handle from one moment to the next during the day. The body will crave and go through withdrawal from these things that can cause mood swings, depression, and even headaches.
This is where you can get stuck on your new diet.
A favorite trick to fighting cravings is to stop and analyze what your body really wants. For example, if you have a sugar craving, it means that your body’s natural sugar levels may be a little low. Instead of grabbing a decadent candy bar, opt for natural sugars like the sweet fruits of apples, oranges, and pears. Craving for salt may indicate a withdrawal from the essential minerals sodium and water. Sometimes salt cravings are your body’s way of telling you that it’s getting dehydrated. Having a jug of water with a couple of grains of organic salt crystals and lemon juice nearby will be enough. You can even have this in a bottle near your desk at work, so there is no excuse. There are many ways to trick the mind and meet the needs of the body at the same time.
It’s hard to beat the mid-trip challenge when you’re trying so hard to achieve your goals. The largest and most vital organ in any diet regimen is your brain. Controlling negative thinking, self-criticism, and self-defeating sabotage can be to blame for ruining any good diet. Sometimes our expectations are too high. It’s natural to want to make big gains with little effort, but our expectations can be changed to reflect a gentler approach to our dietary goals. Create realistic expectations and remember that this is a process, not a career. Each day can bring great benefits and promote confidence and empowerment. Too often, people just don’t celebrate enough. If you only lost half a pound instead of the 2 pounds you expected, you are not a failure. Celebrate the half pound weight loss. It’s quite a feat and better than gaining 10 pounds, so take a pat on the back, literally jump for joy, look at yourself in the mirror, and smile with the pride of kings and queens. You will feel much better.
Another way to get unstuck is to start a diet journal. You can pour your private thoughts and what bothers you into the journal. You can go a long way in figuring out why you’re sticking with a certain eating habit, or even fall for some wonderful self-discoveries and insights that could power your diet program. These are just a few ways to get off the ground and take control of your diet program to great success.
