So last Wednesday I came to a terrifying realization: I have legitimately gained 20 pounds in a year. Now, granted, this time last year I was actively dieting and had probably lost about 7 pounds in three months. But I have now gained all of them back and then some. I’ve gained 10 of those 20 pounds in the past 3 months because I’ve moved back into my parents’ house and can’t say, “no,” to the Oreos that are forever present in our pantry, or to a second (and third. Sometimes fourth, on sloppy joe night) helping of dinner. I also know that, though I try really hard to workout regularly, I’m not working out effectively, and that doing 3 sets of 21’s with the lightest barbell and 30 minutes on the stationary bike, while it’s better than nothing, is not actually anything that will ensure positive physical results (though even that much improves my sleep quality!).
So, when I came to the realization that I’m a mess and I need to stop eating cup noodle for breakfast and pizza for lunch (judge me), I went on a frantic “how to lose 20 pounds in 3 months with minimal changes to horrible eating habits and little-to-no additional physical activity,” internet-searching-spree. The results of my internet hunt will follow, but first, more about me O:)
Here’s how I diet: I decide I’m going to do (insert very restrictive diet here). I set a date–let’s say the next Monday, or the first of the new month. And then, about half way into the first day, I really want a cookie. So I go buy a cookie. And then I decide that my whole first day is ruined and I might as well just eat what I want for the rest of the day and start over tomorrow. And then that goes on for several days until I realize that I have some kind of function coming up (a friend’s birthday, a vacation, etc.) and then I tell myself I’ll start again after (insert event). Basically there is always a new excuse to put off bettering my eating habits, and it all starts with me deciding that one cookie a day ruins my whole process. So here it is:
FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS GOOD IN THIS WORLD, FOCUS ON THE POSITIVE!
The word, “cheat,” should never be used in relation to a diet. You do not cheat on your diet. Cheating means you’re doing something bad or morally wrong, and that you have something to be guilty over. If eating a cookie is bad…That’s just ridiculous and sad and not a life that anyone should feel the need to live. Having a treat isn’t bad, so stop telling yourself it is.
Instead of letting one treat ruin your whole plan, how about you keep track of all of the great decisions you made throughout the day in the notepad on your phone (or wherever). For instance, mine looked like this on December 15:
Did I get up and go get one of those tasty Grandma’s chocolate brownie cookies and some milk from the cafeteria that afternoon? Yep. But will focusing on that inspire me to continue to better my eating/physical activity habits? Nope. So, it happened, I’m glad it did because yum, but I’m not looking at it as a bad thing, nor am I going to sabotage my end goal because of it.
So, what do you guys think? Have you tried to focus more on the positive than negative in relation to your eating habits? Has it made more of a difference than placing the importance on the bad?
