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We’re not supposed to call them “bad foods”

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If you equate eating bad foods with being “bad,” that’s a problem. Whether or not you eat certain foods has no bearing on you as a moral person. 

But let’s be honest. There are foods that are bad for us!

Why can we call cigarettes bad without thinking someone who smokes is bad, but we can’t do the same with things like ultra-processed foods?

It’s not that one Oreo or one hotdog causes diabetes or heart disease. Just like one cigarette doesn’t lead to lung cancer or emphysema. 

It’s that a steady stream of eating bad foods is wreaking havoc on our health. (Calley Means contends that “11 out of the 12 leading killers of Americans are caused by or worsened by processed food.”) And when we’re told not to demonize foods because it’s the same as demonizing ourselves, we let the bad foods off the hook!

And we say things like, “all foods in moderation.” 

Is anyone promoting cigarettes in moderation?

eating bad foods

Now, whether you use terms like good/bad or healthy/unhealthy to describe foods isn’t important. 

What is important is to decide which foods nourish your body and bring about the health, strength and energy you want. And that you make decisions about food that are deserving of you as a healthy hottie. 

I recommend (just like I do with my clients) that you adopt food standards that you’ll follow, no matter what. And when you go off plan, you do the mindset work to figure out how to get back on plan. Remember that eating bad foods doesn’t mean anything about you. If you struggle with that or you notice a moral tinge to the way you talk about your food decisions, look into coaching with me. It’s the best way I know to achieve the results you want and to feel better faster.

Have your healthy eating habits gotten a bit sloppy?

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Ever been in a groove of healthy eating habits when suddenly you look up and you’re veering off track?

A snack-size Snickers here, a couple of Red Vines there. A bit more wine won’t hurt. 

Maybe you’ve gained back a few pounds. Or halted your progress. 

And if this happens you may tell yourself that you deserve a treat now and then. 

Or that sticking to your plan is boring. That life is meant to be lived and not have to worry about eating healthy all the time.

WARNING! This is self-sabotage in action!

It starts out innocent sounding. Very believable. Because it’s partly true: you deserve a treat and shouldn’t have to be bored with, or worry about, what you eat all the time.

But these partial truths cover up the lie:

  • A treat does NOT mean eating or drinking in excess, or mindlessly snacking on foods you really don’t want or need.
  • Making choices based on the health and body you want is NOT boring.  
  • Worrying about food is NOT the same thing as being intentional with healthy eating habits.

These insidious lies take hold and if you don’t catch them, soon you’re back to old habits. Your weight gained back. And beating the crap out of yourself. 

All because you believed the lie.

healthy eating habits
Photo by Brooke Lark on Unsplash

So if you notice your healthy eating habits slipping, pay attention. Why are you making different choices than when you were on plan and making progress? How will you recommit and refocus? What will you learn from this experience to prevent it – or catch it earlier – next time?

Here are some ways to keep yourself on track: 

  • Remind yourself of the outcome you want from eating healthfully, and why it really matters. 
  • Focus on all the great foods you “get” to eat. 
  • Count every single healthy choice as a win. 
  • Don’t believe the lies.
  • Hire a coach.

To be a healthy hottie requires vigilance. Just like anything of importance. 

And, you’re worth it.

The key to stop self-sabotage so you can have the body you want

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I wrote recently about the lens we all see things through like, “a meal isn’t complete without a little something sweet.” That Personal Paradigm of self-sabotage can also be turned inward, taking on a different level of meaning when you gain awareness of the thoughts you have about yourself.

Here are the top 5 damaging ones I hear:

“I’ve tried so many times and just can’t lose weight.”

“I can’t stick with it.”

“My body is disgusting.”

“I don’t have enough willpower.”

“I deserve it.”

If you’ve ever uttered something like this, you probably thought nothing of it. To you, it felt true. But these kinds of statements simply reflect how you think about yourself. 

They are not true.

And they are the epitome of self-sabotage. Try it yourself. Pick a similar thought that regularly floats through your mind. How do you feel when you think it? 

Rather than the feelings we want to have like motivation, inspiration, or determination, every client I talk to tells me these statements bring up things like shame, disappointment, and hopelessness.

Why is this important?

Because to live day-in and day-out the healthy lifestyle you truly want, you must feel determined to take consistent action. You don’t take that action from a place of hopelessness. If you could, you’d already be doing it.

So, how can you stop self-sabotage and shift your Personal Paradigm of how you view yourself? 

You cannot leap to super positive thoughts. You’ve probably tried that. For one, it feels fake to force a happy face, repeating “I love my body,” while picking at a boring salad as your husband eats a bacon cheeseburger. And even if you could do that once or twice, it’s short-lived. 

Instead, gradually shift your thoughts one step at a time:

“I’ve tried so many times and just can’t lose weight.” -> “I’ve learned a lot about what doesn’t work so I can avoid the same mistakes.”

“I can’t stick with it.” -> “Maybe I can stick with it this time.”

“My body is disgusting.” -> “I have a body.”

“I don’t have enough willpower.” -> “I have the willpower I have.”

“I deserve it.” -> “I deserve much more.”

self-sabotage
Photo by Mikhail Nilov: https://www.pexels.com/photo/an-elderly-woman-in-purple-long-sleeves-smiling-8307321/

As you practice the new thought it will feel more true. Then you can up the ante. You start thinking “I have a strong, amazing body.” And you believe it. Not overnight. Over time.

The key is this: you cannot wait to have the body you want in order to love your body. You cannot wait to have all the habits in place to think amazing things about yourself and your ability to follow through. You must cultivate a Personal Paradigm now of the person who has done it all in order to accomplish it. 

8 Quick & Easy Ways to Kickstart Feeling Better and Getting Fit.

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