Why Fad Diets are not the answer
If you're anything like I used to be, you will have tried countless numbers of fad diets in an attempt to get that 'dream body' but never actually succeed and most likely 'fall off the wagon' every time. As a result, you beat yourself up, hate on your body and feel a whole lot of guilt and shame. Trust me we're not alone!
The restrictive nature of most diets is not enjoyable! They are not sustainable! Counting calories, deprivation and weighing food is not only tedious and taking the enjoyment out of eating, but its also adding stress to our bodies and our lives - which has a profound impact on our digestive system and overall health and wellbeing.
Diets often don't teach us how to create healthy eating habits (essential for a sustainable healthy lifestyle) which means as soon as we finish the 'diet' (or not finish it in our case) we go back to our usual habits and gain the weight back on - if not more. Ahhhh!!! This is a viscous cycle and if you ask me one that needs to stop.
The good news here is that there is another way to get your dream body - your ideal, natural weight. An approach that is in fact so much easier and more enjoyable than dieting, that really teaches you to create healthy sustainable habits. And that is to LISTEN TO YOUR BODY. We all have an innate intelligence that tells us exactly what we need, when we need it and how much we need. It tells us what works and what doesn't work. The problem is that for most people, we ignore this innate intelligence. We have forgotten how to look within and honour our bodies wisdom.
In order to change and to really fall in love with your body and your life, you must start listening to its signals.
Here are 7 simple ways to start practicing listening to and honouring your body:
- Start noticing during and after eating food how you feel. Do you feel energised, do you feel sluggish, do you feel heavy etc. Choose more of the foods that make you feel good and give you energy as opposed to take it away
- Notice your hunger signals. Are you actually physically hungry? i.e. rumbly tummy, empty tummy, low energy. Or are you emotionally hungry? i.e bored, sad, tired? If you're eating out of emotional hunger it is time to dig deeper to understand what is causing this emotion
- Notice your fullness signals. Practice finishing your meal when you are satiated instead of eating until you're completely stuffed
- Listen to your intuition - that feeling you get in your tummy and start saying yes to its guidance. Trust these messages
- If you feel pain anywhere in your body, start getting curious as to what is causing that pain? What is out of balance? Is there a past hurt you need to let go of?
- Practice showering your body with kind words - your body hears what your mind tells it - so start acknowledging your body for its greatness
- Move your body in a fun and enjoyable way - our bodies love to move not to stagnate. Honour this about our bodies and find a form of movement that energises you and makes you feel amazing
Healthy is a lifestyle, not a fad. Be true to who you are and listen carefully to your incredible inner guidance.
If you would love to know more about how to create a healthy lifestyle that is enjoyable for you, and stop dieting for good, then please reach out to me and schedule your free Total Mind Body Transformation - Discovery Call today.
With love and health,
Tenille xx