I sat at the dining room table looking at the photographs of me as a child, a teenager and an adult. It wasn’t my hairstyle or my crooked teeth that I noticed but how fat/thin I was. I wondered if I looked bigger or smaller now than the photo taken at my 21st birthday or as a bridesmaid at my friend’s wedding.
At the back of my mind a thought began to form and a voice I hadn’t heard from for a while began speaking. A diet ~ an exercise regime ~ a bit a discipline was all I needed to get back in shape. It’s only a few days until 1 January which is the perfect time to embark on a full body makeover.
The lure of dieting is never far away. Especially when combined with a sense of discomfort at being a grown daughter in my parent’s house. I know I can do it — I’ve done it before. Is resolving to lose weight in 2012 the next step in my relationship with my body or a recipe for disaster. How can I tell if this is what I really want?
As 1 January approaches all women in their 30’s and 40’s contemplate going on a weight loss diet. It is the time of year that even seasoned intuitive eaters wonder if just applying a little more discipline might shift those last five kilos. How can you resist the lure of starting 2012 with the intention of finally getting back to your happy weight?
Ask yourself these questions ~
- Am I eating treats and drinking more now than I normally would because I know I have to stop eating this food and drinking in a few days time?
- If this was truly what I wanted, why I am delaying changing my behaviour until 1 January?
- Is what I’m going to do ever worked for me before? (how is it I have to do it all over again?)
- Do I feel excitement or dread when I contemplate changing my behaviour?
- What obstacles have prevented me from being a successful dieter before? Have these obstacles disappeared?
- What do I believe being thin will allow me to have (love, happiness, confidence, respect)? Have I been happy, confident and loved at my current weight?
- If everyone in the world was blind, would I still want to lose weight?
- Can I live without chocolate/bread/wine/butter for the rest of my life?
- Does this goal allow me to go after my purpose in life? Or does it keep me from fulfilling my purpose?
- Who am I doing this for?
Perhaps the answers to these questions might make you re-think your desire to set out on another mission to lose weight.
Did you know
The word resolution comes from resolvere which means to loosen or dissolve again …
Tell me
As an intuitive eater have you been having thoughts of dieting again as 2012 approaches?
Hi Katie,
I’m sure that squillions of women and some men are contemplating the inevitable new year’s diet. Some things never change and this is one of them.
Personally I will be making an effort to drink less alcohol and eat less as I’ve typically succumbed to the excesses of the silly season. Do I consider myself a dieter? No I don’t but am I happy to live with the spare tyre forming around my middle? No I’m not so the answer is less alcohol, less treats, replaced by healthier food choices.
Is it intuitive eating? Probably not by definition but as long as its my choice and not a rule set by somebody else then I’m happy going this way.
Wishing you a fantastic NYE and a fabulous 2012.
XX Magda
I hope your 2012 is everything you’ve dreamed of ♥
i don’t typically make new year resolutions but decided that what i am going to do is make a “recommitment” to myself. your list has immediately convinced me that recommiting to that strict lifestyle and super lean physique is not for me.
my “recommitment” is that in moments of conscienceness i will no longer make decisions/take actions that i KNOW are physically harmful to me – overexercising, undereating, binging etc. (i have decide to focus on the physical right now because that is more clear and tangible to me right now.) i will to do my best to honor that commitment every day…starting now.
Re-commitment is a great concept. You’re doing great!
***sorry for the typos/repitition, my computer is fritzy right now!***
No worries sweetie 😀
Well, I have changed my eating becuase I’m competing again-and I’m loving every single minute of it; so I know it’s right for me. I wasn’t feeling particuluraly bad about myself to begin with-I just made a decision that I really want to compete in the All Females-so my eating changed.
I suppose ever since I’ve quit drinking-I’m just on a different path-now, when I decide to do something-I just do it (something I preached for years and now truly live by). I’ve decided I want to do well at this competition-and that simply means being stricter with my diet-but I don’t see it as a hardship since I still eat yummy food and I’m loving the changes in my body.
I guess what I’m saying is, a person needs to decide why they want to achieve a certain goal, and IF they really want to achieve that goal and then just do it. That’s how I quit drinking-I just did it and that’s how I’m approaching this comp. 🙂 Happy New Year girl! xoxo
You’ll rock the stage in 2012 girl — enjoy the challenge!