Happy 2016! We are off to another year and with it comes another year of resolutions to get thinner, smarter, happier, richer etc. To that end we are constantly marketed to and sold those over-inflated and somewhat unattainable ideals. Today I am going to pick on the ‘thinner you’ ideal and dieting. There are literally thousands of diets out there for you to try. So which diet works best? Oh, take your pick. There are so many that promise you will lose 30 pounds in a month or you will look like Heidi Klum when you are done with it. They all promise you something and being the ever eager and hopeful people that we are, we often buy into it. And diets do work. For awhile. But why do they work and then they don’t? This is a question that has a multitude of answers to, but I am going to offer up my answer today.
Diets work, for the short-term, because they force you to be mindful. That’s right, they force us to pay attention to what we are buying, cooking, eating and thinking about eating. It’s really quite simple actually. Here is an excellent definition of mindfulness:
“Mindfulness means maintaining a moment-by-moment awareness of our thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and surrounding environment.”
When we are forced to pay close attention to something, we usually succeed at it. Take for example studying for a really hard test. If you fully prepare, study and study some more, there is a good chance you will do well on the test. Dieting is the same thing. If you pay very close attention to your body, how you feel, what the scale says, how your clothes fit, your energy level and and ultimately what food you put in your mouth then most likely you will put healthier food in your mouth. So that’s why diets work for the short term. The diet makes you think and make better decisions.
The long term is a different story. The problem with mindfulness is its not easy to do. Most of us can be mindful for a period of time, but inevitably something comes along that distracts us. In the case of dieting this could be an illness or injury, a job loss, the loss of a relationship or financial troubles or it could just simply be boredom with the daily grind of dieting life. Whatever it is, it takes our focus away and we drift back into old habits and before you know it, we are back to where we started (or in some cases worse).
So how can you be successful with dieting? You need to choose a program that you can do for the REST OF YOUR LIFE with full attention and mindfulness. When life’s inevitable hiccups come along, you may be thrown off track for a bit, but with your strength in mindfulness you will return to your diet.
The next time you go on a diet, think about mindfulness and how it can help you succeed. Or better yet, don’t go on a diet and just practice mindfulness in every day life. Start your practice with this…each time you eat anything, ask yourself this question…how can I make this food as healthy as possible? The answer will come to you automatically. Yes, it is that simple. And the best part…its FREE!
Salad For Breakfast 