Today's (Day23 Counter the Unfairness Syndrome) chapter is again about a specific sabotaging thought:
(It is OK to eat this unplanned food because) others are eating it and it is not fair I can't have it.
I think it is the first time in the book that we look at how eating behaviors of others affect us - so far we dealt with what's going on in our own head! : )
Thinking rationally, of course a calorie is a calorie, whether or not others are eating it,
and (hopefully) I wrote a good food plan last night, incorporating all the calories and nutrients I need for today.
This used to be a serious issue for me, but not anymore!
This chapter gives many helpful ideas to see this in a different perspective.
For me, these are the most relevant:
"It is not fair that I can't have what X/everyone is eating"
-eating too much has consequences for everyone - not only for me!
Observe people who eat what I cannot have because it is not on my plan.
They may be overweight, not able to lose, or even gaining weight (while I'm at goal)
They may have cravings, struggle to stop eating and suffer from feelings of guilt and shame (while I don't)
They may be at goal weight and follow a healthful diet when I'm not watching (good for them! ; ) )
-life is not fair - and I have many food-related advantages over others
I have access to healthy food and clear water
I get to choose 3 delicious and satisfactory meals every day, and I get to eat them in a safe, calm and beautiful environment
Others may go hungry every day, and may not know if there will be food tomorrow, and even if if there is, it may polluted or lack important nutrients.
Kriszta
Goal weight:
59 +- 1 kg /// 130 +-2 pounds
CET (Europe, Hungary)
Maintenance Lessons Learned:
-go on with the healthy lifestyle learned in weight loss phase
-just add healthy foods gradually to stop losing
-work out every day - 30-60 minutes is enough to maintain weight and good mood
-do not try to balance overeating by extreme workouts, it is not going to work
-avoid overeating, instead of satisfaction you get stronger cravings