It Takes a Village
Dear Readers,
I lied to you in my last blog post and I’m sorry.
Well not really sorry. I lied to you on purpose to see if any of you would raise up in arms. You didn’t, which either means there’s less of you than I think or my lie was just subtle enough to slip by. What did I lie about?
The ease of calorie reduction. I said something along the lines of reducing calories through what you eat is easier than reducing calories through exercise. Now has anyone actually tried reducing the amount of calories that you eat every day? Was it easy?
(I’ve got about 3 clients out there scratching there head going “umm yeah… it was….”) For the rest of us real lifers, reducing your caloric intake by 500 may sound easier than jogging an hour every day but we all know in real life, change is rarely so easy.
Our decision to put xyz food in our mouth is a complex one. It’s driven by hunger, it’s driven by emotions, by sights, by cues of our friends, family, colleagues and random strangers on public transportation, by traditions, by values, by hormonal changes, by whims, by coercion… you name it. This is why I firmly believe in the power of coaching. (And not just by me, but I am pretty good.) A coach can be anyone – your best pal Shelia, your Uncle Leo, your doting wife… or it can be a professional someone – a personal trainer, a nutritionist, a coach, a therapist, a physican.
The truth is is that untangling the complex web of eating decisions is a journey. You’ll make one enlightened step forward and tumble two confusing “why did I do that” steps backward. It will at times be exciting as you discover your own sense of understanding and confidence, but it will also be fraught with frustration and disappointment. Having someone or a team of someones to hold your hand is not just a nice idea, it’s a neccesity.
Food For Thought: If you were going to run a marathon, would you sign up for the one that boasts spectators and bands playing at every mile or the one that promises crickets chirping and silent, barren landscape? Too much time in your head on a long journey is not good for anyone. Are you ready to tackle your weight loss marathon? Round up your spectators, let them know where you need them to stand and make sure when you hear them cheering loud and clear you give them a big ol thanks so they’ll keep on cheering.
Let me say this one more time: You. Need. Support.
Stay tuned for more on untangling that messy web of eating cues I just introduced. That’s where we’re going next. (Get your spectators ready if you think you want to dig in to your own cues!)
Tags: calorie counting, emotional eating, weight loss
