REFLECTIONS OF A FOOD ADDICT...

From Warren:

REFLECTIONS OF A FOOD ADDICT

Has anyone else looked in the mirror lately and thought, “Now where did that come from?” That’s right…I’m referring to that little more of myself in the reflection. Thankfully, I’m not obsessed with my weight, and I don’t need a scale to let me know I could use to lose some pounds…more than a few even. Unfortunately for my figure, I love food. It doesn’t help that it’s winter…seems eating is my favorite activity this time of year. Gone are the days when I could eat anything I wanted without consequence. It appears that my body has developed an atavistic impulse to store everything I eat as fat, as if at any moment I’ll have to survive the rest of the winter gnawing on twigs and the occasional berry from the shelter of my cave. Fear not… I’ll have plenty of reserves to draw upon. This isn’t the first winter I’ve noticed this trend, but it is the most pronounced. Seems to get worse every year, and harder to take off the residuals once the sun has finally returned.

One of my hurdles to this situation is very clear to me…I HATE DIETING! Somehow, it’s an all or nothing equation that works for me regarding my relationship to food. What?…Only one helping of garlic mashed potatoes at dinner? But they are so tasty… MODERATION BE DAMMED! I have yet to master the discipline required to make the right food choices all of the time, so I end up in an occasional game of tub-of-war, trying to tug my fat body back to it’s former slim glory. It’s amazing how quickly the weight can come on, and how slow and arduous it seems to take it off. I have no patience for slow weight loss…I want results and I want to see them now! With this type of all or nothing disposition, extreme measures are required and radical change must transpire for a successful and speedy transition back to slimmer state.

I think it helps a lot for a few things to happen: the first of which is DISGUST. Self loathing can be a wonderful motivator for change. Your will needs motivation and a strong voice to carry out radical change or it will fold under the tremendous weight of habit and dependence. Strong emotions tend to burn longer than passing fancies. If you think it might be nice to do something that’s outside your regular routine, chances are you won’t do it if there isn’t enough passion attached to it. No one ever climbed Everest that said, “Geez, that might be fun to do.” Conviction is key and stamina will be required for most worthy endeavors…so buck up! Get out some old pictures of yourself or put an unflattering one on the fridge…rent some inspirational movies…read a book about the triumph of the human spirit…keep your soul fed and your passion burning so your momentum doesn’t fizzle out.

Once you’ve hit that point where you realize it’s time to take action, you need to form a plan or your energy will be wasted on spastic and fleeting attempts to make change. This is no time to flounder. Clear and concise movement is required or frustration will undo you. Set a plan…a course for success where failure is not an option. How is this done? I find it helpful to completely alter my relationship to food. Food, I love you…but you have become a naughty temptress. I must leave you. Obviously, quitting food is a bad idea, but changing the role it plays in your world can be a good one. During times of weight loss, I embrace a completely pragmatic relationship to food. I seek no joy there…it becomes nothing more than sustenance. Much like the air we breathe…I don’t want it to be polluted, but beyond that, it requires little thought or attachment. I take enough to continue…nothing less, nothing more. This approach puts food in its place for me and keeps me from cheating or overeating. I keep my meals simple and nutritious… nothing decadent that will leave me wanting more. There are plenty of diets out there to model your food intake around. Do some research and pick one that resonates with you. I do well with a low carbohydrate approach, but usually go a step further and initiate a cleanse at the onset of my weight loss. I find this helps me control my cravings, which can be a nuisance at the onset. A good cleanse will often make you feel like you want to die. Detoxifying the body can be a rough road for some, so brace yourself and your loved ones before you go down this path.

It’s ultimately a pretty simple equation you need to contend with: if you burn more calories than you consume throughout the day, your body will burn fat as it’s source of energy. If you heed this formula, any diet will work, though some will require more exercise than others. Which brings me to the next step to success: get active. You may lose weight with diet alone, but exercise will expedite the transformation. Besides, few things in life will make you feel better physically than exercise will. Getting over the inertia of complacency is the hardest part. If you can find the motivation to get to the gym or to suit up for a morning run, you have cleared the hardest hurdle. Exercise in and of itself is easy, and typically enjoyable. It’s mechanical…JUST DO IT! You’ll feel better when your done and it gets easier to do the longer you do it. It’s the getting to the gym that requires the real motivation. For this you will need discipline. If you have the funds, join a gym…if not, then use what you have. A good pair of running shoes is all you really need to succeed, and a nice brisk walk every morning may be the perfect way to start. You can raise the bar as you go, just make sure you budget the time for it daily. Some may benefit from the support of another. Get your spouse involved…ask a friend to be a workout partner…join a Biggest Loser competition. Find your motivation and conviction… research your dietary plan…reach out for support. The motivation and moral support you can find in others may help you through the times where your own motivation may waiver. Write out your plans…clean out your cupboards of sweet temptations…fill your fridge with healthy options. Remember the goal…stay focused…don’t deviate from the course. If you stay true to your plan you cannot help but succeed. The weight will come off and there will inevitably be less of you in the reflection, and more time to reflect on something other than your weight.

Join us at The Acupuncture Studio for our inaugural Biggest Loser Competition. Just schedule an acupuncture appointment between March 1^st and the 12^th for entry in the contest commencing with a weigh-in followed by a supportive treatment to help stimulate your metabolism and curb your cravings. Find out how powerful an ally acupuncture can be on your path to weight loss. What do you have to lose?

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