Weight Loss is Hard Work or is it?
Even as a Registered Dietitian I have had my own share of weight woes and have read many books on the topic for personal and professional reference. One such book is Body for Life® for Women: a woman’s plan for physical and mental transformation (Rodale 2005) by Pamela Peeke, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.C.P. In the book Dr. Peeke suggests woman should accept that achieving and sustaining a mental and physical transformation takes work. She states “…mental and physical sweat, intensity, mindfulness, focus - all the things , by the way, that you apply to your job, your kids, and your relationships. Why shouldn’t you expend the same energy on yourself? Humbly accept that your self-care will take work, and you’ll make the journey so much easier.”
From a different perspective Authors Marla Cilley and Leanne Ely of Body Clutter: love your body, love yourself (Fireside 2005) write “Losing weight is not a game we play. It is not a challenge we take on to beat someone by losing more weight than she can. This is a lifelong attitude adjustment. It is okay that we are just now making the decision to change. We can jump in right where we are and not look back, but only look forward. This is not the hard work you have forced yourself to believe it is; wellness is a choice to live a balanced life. It’s not work unless we make it that way.”
From my perspective, weight loss is work in the sense that you have to make a choice everytime you eat. Some of us are lucky and this comes easily to us. For others lifestyle change is a longer, more difficult road because we are so stuck that we have to clear our cluttered thoughts or spaces to make room for change. BUT healthy eating…nourishing our bodies is the right choice to make. It does take an attitude adjustment and a daily commitment to be the best you that you can be. I encourage you to become your own priority. Just take one baby step toward a healthier you.
As an R.D., I get asked why my life coaching practice isn’t focused on nutrition. It is to a point, but eating healthier, losing weight and being physically active all require conscious thought and commitment. I have found that being able to make and sustain change or making positive choices requires you to become unstuck… to get clear about your goals and to clear clutter (old beliefs, excess baggage, physical environment, negative thoughts, inactivity, etc.) from your mind, body and space to gain balance so you can achieve your goals, health, fitness and harmony in your life.
So make the healthier choice at your next meal as your step toward a healthier you. Think about your beliefs about weight loss or change. Are they still true for you? If you would like to try a free complimentary coaching session contact me:
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2 Responses to “Weight Loss is Hard Work or is it?”
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I really appreciate your approach in this post to weight loss. It’s not flipping a switch and expecting to see transformation. It’s a way of life (a marathon, rather than a sprint). I believe in taking the resources (such as your information here) that are available all around us and weaving them into the fabric of our lives. As a coach myself, I’ve seen how life coaching is a tremendous way to do that.
A few phrases jump out at me:
“Losing weight…is a lifelong attitude adjustment.”
“Wellness is a choice.”
“You have to make a choice everytime.”
“Nourishing our bodies is the right choice to make.”
“It takes…a daily commitment to be the best you can be.”
“Making positive choices requires you to become unstuck.”
“Get clear about your goals.”
Good stuff!
Scott Couchenour, Certified Life Coach to People Helpers
http://www.servingstrong.typepad.com
Always good to read what you have to say