Archives November 2013

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.

How would you like to learn the most common mistake that we women make when we decide to drop a dress size, or three?

You do?

It’s the “I Want It Right Now” syndrome.

Aha. You know what I’m talking about, don’t you!

This ‘urgency’ sets us up for failure – right from the outset – because we’re rush, rush, rushing our weight loss.

e.g. we go from having studiously avoided all forms of exercise for months, to exercising like a crazy woman several times a day.

Or, having regularly overindulged at the dinner table for a significant period, we shock our bodies as we start drinking dull-as-dishwater diet shakes, that promise “5kgs lost while you sleep”, three times a day.

We’re impatient.
We’re needy.
We’re afraid.

You see, we humans are funny creatures. Despite having thought about losing weight for months, maybe even years, now that we’re actually taking action – well, we want it r.i.g.h.t. T.H.I.S m.i.n.u.t.e!

Seeking immediate results on the scale is tantamount to planting a seed in the ground, then digging it up every morning to see if it’s growing yet. The seed does a whole lot of changing, developing under the ground, out of sight.

And you, digging it up each morning to check on progress, at best, impedes progress, and at worst, kills progress.

Mad at ourselves

Sounds crazy, but this ‘rushing’ is just another word for fear. When we rush our weight loss, when we’re impatient for results – we’re often mad at ourselves.

We’re mad for not “starting sooner”.
We’re mad for being “my age” and still struggling with this weight thing.
We’re mad for not having no willpower or having “lost time” in the past on failed diets.

We feel like we have to “catch up” because there’s no time to waste.

I sooooo get it! Who hasn’t been there?

“Overnight weight loss”

Let’s be honest. The “overnight weight loss” promised by many diets is neither safe, nor in most cases, possible. It’s a major reason why 95% of diets fail.

When we rush our results, the process becomes joyless – something to be endured – our willpower vanishes, and surprise, surprise the diet fails. Or in truth, the diet fails us: for more on that see here, here and here.

Result = three months later you’re even heavier than before……..and even madder than last time.

So, if you have decided that dropping a dress size is what you want – do yourself a favour – and give yourself the gift of time. Do it slowly. Focus on the process, not the the scales.

Go gently.
Go patiently.
Go kindly.

The weight didn’t arrive overnight. It will not shift overnight. You know this – you’re a smart woman, right?!

Allow yourself the gift of time and ‘keep on keeping on’, so that you can become the shape and size you choose to be.

Set a goal, and in small, consistent steps, work to reach it. Get support from your peers when you start flagging. Repeat.
You will change. —Seth Godin

Or, in other words, allow those seed to bloom – unhindered by crazy-pants-self-imposed deadlines.

So, start now sweetheart. In three months time – in 2014 – you’ll be pleased you did.

Love etc, Avril

PS: If you’re sick of the madness hypnotherapy might just be the answer you’re looking for. By harnessing the power of the unconscious mind you can drop a dress size gently, easily and naturally. Why not give me a call – there’s still time to drop a dress size by Christmas.