Posts Tagged ‘food’

How Do YOU Feel Entitled?: Part 2

Wednesday, November 17th, 2010

Man with dumbbell in one hand, corn chip in the otherGood. So for me, I will admit that lately I’ve got this laissez-faire attitude about my own eating. I gained 6.5 pounds practically as soon as I finished saying “I do” 5 months ago, and I vacillate from being really irritated with that fact (particularly given my line of work) and copping a “who cares?” view. Neither is serving me to take action and, in fact, choosing to perpetuate a negative perspective naturally drives me to sidle up to my friend, Food.

If I dig a little deeper, I’m starting to recognize a recent pattern of entitlement. I worked hard to trim the few pounds down to my goal weight for my wedding, and now I think I’ll kick back a bit and have: a slice of banana bread here (it’s not really a “sweet,” right?), a couple spoonfuls of peanut butter there.

If whatever season you are in is, in your mind, getting in the way of optimal living, I invite you to consider how much is truth and how much is excuse.

I’m certain the reasons are plausible—I mean, if you like to exercise outside, winter’s dark and cold does make it harder. But then again, there are allergens to contend with in spring and fall, and heat and humidity in the summer. So even though the reasons are rational, we get to circumvent them for a higher cause—our commitment to better living.

What will I do now? Well, what will you do? Again, it helps to play along here by pausing to reflect on your own choices for moving forward.

Next post: What I will do.

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How Do YOU Feel Entitled?: Part 1

Monday, November 15th, 2010

Woman eating a plate of cookiesI’m sitting here frustrated because I just broke my word to myself not to have any of the homemade oatmeal scotchie cookies in the freezer. It was only one and it might not seem like a big deal, but I’ve learned that a broken promise—no matter how big or small—can eat away at the integrity of a person, especially if it’s a promise you’ve made to yourself.

The kicker is I didn’t even thaw the cookie in the microwave, so that in some warped line of thinking I could pretend I wasn’t actually consuming the thing. I also started into it by breaking off a single morsel that was hanging out on one amoeba-like edge, allowing myself a moment of amnesia as to what countless similar experiences have told me would happen next.

Fantasy and forgetfulness. You can guess how good it tasted. Cold, bland, and full of guilt.

So why did I do it? Before I answer that, I’d like to invite you, the reader, to consider this scenario and question for yourself. Why would you do it?

What circumstances or unresolved feelings are at play right now in your life that are coaxing you to seek out food for solace or escape from your commitments? If you are loose in holding your word, what does that reveal about your beliefs?

No, seriously. For your benefit, please stop and honestly consider this. And then go one thought beyond that.

Next post: Why I did it.

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Dear Media: Please Stop the Diet Talk!

Tuesday, February 9th, 2010

Last week, Washington Post health columnist Jennifer LaRue Huget reported that some weight loss experts now recommend we evaluate our relationship with food rather than take up a new diet. It’s a great start, but woefully short-sighted.

For the first time ever, I felt moved to comment. Here’s what I wrote in response:

“I agree that it’s time we shifted our perspective to include a look at internal factors. However, I think we are doing more harm than good by continuing to focus on eating, dieting, what we should and shouldn’t be “DOing.” It’s as if we’re putting the cart before the horse.

I have found in my coaching practice that when you start engaging in your life in new ways that fulfill your deepest longings (i.e. start writing that book you’ve put off, practice daily giving to your spouse), you’ll not only want to now take better care of yourself, you’ll also be too busy and feel too good to obsess over a brownie craving! Instead of solving the diet “problem ” and looking for what needs to be corrected, it is much more inspiring and effective to help someone create a compelling vision that launches forward the person he or she wants to “BE.” i.e. “Who do you get to be to have the full life you want?”

Once you can answer that, you’ll do whatever it takes to achieve your dream–be it taking the time to write your book 20 minutes a day OR taking a zumba class with a friend in order to experience how joyful it feels to move your body at the same time you connect with others.”
{Posted by Sarah under the username truce1.}

What do YOU think?

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