Start your weight loss program with the best of intentions but it seems to fizzle after a while? Ever judge yourself for not participating in your weight loss program perfectly?
I recently completed a full range fitness test given by my personal trainer. Based on the results, I had to really choose to what I call, “Work my Process.” What I mean by this is taking the information that I received about my fitness level and consciously use the tools I have in my toolbox to hear the course corrective feedback/information neutrally as a result of taking the test. Sometimes this is easier said than done! I noticed afterwards that I did not focus on all the wonderfully positive feedback. I noticed myself focusing only on the course corrective (and I labeled it negative at the time) feedback. So, in some areas I’m quite fit and my ego was fed (an interesting food metaphor) and in other areas, I had to work really hard to not go into self judgment. Well, let’s be honest, I had to work really hard to not go into “much” self judgment.
It seems that for every level or layer that I release about what my body is and what it is NOT, I get tested to see if I learned the lesson I was to receive. I find this in a lot of areas of my life actually. I might even call it a spiritual principle. Did I really learn the lesson? Let’s check! While in place of feeling really confident that I am very strong physically and work out five days a week generally, it was quite challenging to hear that I don’t actually get enough oxygen to my muscles when working out at my maximum heart rate due only to my physical weight. My trainer recommends me releasing weight! This struck me as quite ironic and downright humorous; as if what I have been doing for the last 20 years wasn’t intending to do just that!
Let’s take a closer look at the metaphor: “I don’t give enough oxygen to myself when I’m working hard.” I don’t give myself breaks. I work too hard. I don’t acknowledge myself enough. The list could go on.
I am amazed by how much we as humans (and I include myself in this embarrassingly enough) seem to feel that we must begin something with as much energy and enthusiasm as we can muster which more often than not tends to then fizzle over as little as a couple of weeks. Does this sound like the way you approach releasing weight? It’s a black/white, on/off, all/nothing game that tends to get played. My experience has led me to believe that this particular method of accomplishing one’s goal or Ideal Scene is just not sustainable.
Have you ever seen a teenager trying to learn to drive a manual transmission car, and they stall the car? I sure did that plenty of times. Have you ever seen one throw their hands up and declare that they’ll never be able to drive (giving up), that it’s the car’s fault (our body), that if only they had premium gas it wouldn’t have done that (different food or supplements), that the driving instructor didn’t teach them correctly (putting the blame outside ourselves – our doctors, our advisors, etc.). Sounds absurd, doesn’t it?
Can you see a teenager saying that they want to learn to drive an automatic because it’s too hard to drive a manual or stick shift transmission? I can picture this more easily. Yet, how many times do we wait for different circumstances to change before we begin something? I know plenty of teenagers that can’t wait to go fill up the gas tank for a chance to drive. It’s about intention. Teenagers learning to drive have a clear intention, however they need to work it in order to go and to do that.
It boils down to choice (yet another food/cooking reference): Am I going to participate in this weight and body image journey of mine in a state of struggle or flow? Chances are if you are reading this, that you or someone you care about are already going through this journey. Most would agree that it would be a much nicer ride to go through it in a state of loving, gentleness, self-nurturing, and flow, than one of self-judgment, not doing whatever enough, and generally being down on yourself.
It’s a simple concept, and all it takes is choosing differently. The great thing about it is that we get an infinite number of opportunities to choose how we are with ourselves as we go through our journey. Let’s face it: how we are with ourselves as we go through the journey is really the issue. So how do you want to continue your journey? What is your intention?
Food for Thought “Nuggets” for Issue or Opportunity??
Until next time, all the best,
Elaine Robinson
InnerSpect “Weight Release & Body Image” Coaching
Facilitating Healthy Weight Release & Positive Shifts in Body Image
http://www.innerSpect.net
P.O. Box 4092
Mountain View, CA 94040
(650) 938-1222
Why Caring What Other People Think Doesn’t Work
Do you look to others to validate yourself? Tired of feeling judged by others about what you eat?
Beauty Is In the Eye of the Beholder
Would you give up part of your life to be thinner? Do you see the beauty of your body?
What New Year’s Resolution?
Struggling to keep your New Year's Resolution? Learn about the power of keeping your word.
