Blow Your Diet–5 Reasons Why You Do It

Yesterday, while at the hair salon, I picked up Oprah’s Magazine and was skimming through it. It was an older issue. I was enjoying it so much and knew I couldn’t find it at the store anymore, so I thought about secretly stuffing it into my purse. But then the guilt would have eaten me up, so I didn’t. You know, ALL those hidden cameras while you are sitting there waiting to get your haircut. The salon “police” might have tackled me on the way out the door. Right. Anyway…

I came across an article describing why people continue to blow their diets over and over again. The gist was that researchers found most people fail because they really don’t face the real issue as to “why” they want to lose weight. And that it was important for people to identify what makes them feel so uncomfortable about being overweight. I found this interesting as I automatically know what motivates me. I absolutely hate it when my jeans are too tight. Hate it. So, I have locked this into my brain, and it really does motivate me to not order a shake along with my healthy salad at my local “Steak n’ Shake.” (Yes, I actually go there and get their apple walnut grilled chicken salad. It is delicious!) I have zero problem not eating fries and a shake because I know I do not want to be busting out of my jeans. And in turn, when I stick to my guns, I feel good about me, inside and out. Negative and positive motivators working in tandem.

So here’s the question: Do you have any idea why you blow your diet day after day, month after month, year after year? Why is it you just can’t seem to stay on track?

Hmmm. I’ve pulled together five reasons why I think people blow their diets.

In spite of your “good diet” efforts, are you still headed for the sofa during the day or after dinner to watch TV for oh, one to three hours? Watching television, especially without moving, will slow your metabolic rate down. Get up off the couch. Take a walk. Do mild stretches. Hit the gym. Do something different. And if you have to watch the boob tube, do so on a cardio machine.

How many times have you been doing your best to stick with your diet and then you end up going to lunch with friends who talk you into having your favorite food or drinks? Or how about after work for that one drink? Which turns into ordering pizza, beer and heck, why not have cake since you blew it anyway. Solution? Choose your “chow pals” wisely or go solo until you hit your goal.

Check out this photo. If you aren’t a vegetarian and are hungry at the moment, you may find you can almost smell the grease wafting off of this burger and fries. Can fatty foods make you feel satisfied, calm and loved? Yup, fat and love may go together in your book. No fat may mean you aren’t feeling “the love” due to old programming. Next time you reach for a fry or a piece of pie, ask yourself “Why?” Is it in the name of love?

Take a good look at yourself in the mirror. Do you like what you see? Beyond your shape, your hair, the color of your skin? Do you like YOU? If there is even a bit of hesitation, it’s time to dive into that brain or yours and do some tweaking. Affirmations are a great place to start. Listen to them while you fall asleep, while you drive in the car, even while working on the computer. A super recording to start with is “101 Power Thoughts” by Louise Hay. Remember this: you need to change your mind before you can change your matter!

Speaking of love, how about love? Not loving yourself enough may be the number one reason why you cannot stick to your diet program. If you don’t love yourself then why would you want to do anything that would show you care about you? What’s the solution? Act “as if” you love you. Be kind to you. Get enough sleep. Eat nutritious foods. Work out regularly. Take breaks. Stop to breathe and look for beauty around you. Surround yourself with loving people. In this case, “fake it ’til you make it” can help you connect with acts of self-love. Then, once you open your heart to the most important person in your life … you … you may find sticking to your diet becomes easier than you could have ever imagined.

The bottom line, folks: Get real about why you fail. Sometimes when sunlight is cast into darkest shadows of the inner workings of you, your newfound awareness can help fuel your path to diet success!

Question for you: Why do you think you blow your diet? Or those you know?

Original post written by Laura Lewis for ThatsFit.com.