We’ve all had that conversation.
You know the one.
The one we women have in our heads – any given Sunday.
It goes something like this:
“That’s it. I’ve had enough. I’m starting tomorrow. Tomorrow I’m starting a diet. I’m going to lose this weight, once and for all, because I’m reeeeeeeally sick of feeling …. exhausted, frustrated, frumpy…and I wanna feel gooooooood.”
You know the one, right?!
This conversation is often triggered by a comment from an unsuspecting friend or family member. Sometimes it’s triggered by the sight of our double chin in the unforgiving light of a Facebook photo. Or, maybe, even our ‘fat jeans’ have started to feel tight.
So, it’s Sunday night….
And post-conversation, we’re positivity bursting with motivation, commitment, and will power – because this time, this Monday, this diet, is “going to work”.
“Forget about all those other diets”, we confidently tell ourselves, “they were just practice sessions for this Monday – woot woot!”
And, because we’ve all been here before, we know how that scenario ends, right?!
By Wednesday (Thursday, if we’re lucky), we’re struggling with cravings for ‘naughty’ foods, as we find ourselves elbow-deep in the family-sized packet of chips, wondering where all that will power and motivation – that was so abundant on Sunday night – disappeared to!
True or true?
Now, if you’ve read me for any length of time you’ll know I have little time for diets.
They fail for a number of reasons: they work against our bodies own natural wisdom, they create the yoyo cycle and they’re fun-free.
The thing about “I’ll just start the diet on Monday”…or,”after the holidays”…. or, “in the New Year”….or any other arbitrary starting point is that those dates are meaningless.
What we’re really saying is ‘not now’ or “I just can’t commit right now.”
And therein lies the problem.
We can imagine committing to a healthier way of being sometime in the future, but not now.
And here’s the kicker: that future date never happens.
Because when Monday or New Year’s Day actually arrives, we then let some other hiccup delay our start date again.
And again.
We become more helpless. Even more stuck. We lose our confidence. We procrastinate.
And our weight continues to climb.
So what can you do instead?
Always start now.
In this breath.
In this moment.
Right now.
No matter the day, the date, the year or the holiday season. As soon as you find yourself wandering (or bolting!!!) away from your healthy way of being, simply come back. And then continue.
No big start required.
No fanfare.
No drama.
Darling, all you need to do is start. And keep on starting. Starting today.
Love etc, Avril
PS: If you’re sick of the same old Sunday night conversation, hypnotherapy might be exactly what you’re after. Why not drop me a line over here, today.
