New Year’s Resolutions That Matter

  • It’s New Years Resolution time
    • Nothing wrong with self-improvement
    • Does it feel like a hamster wheel?
    • Do you keep doing the same thing expecting different results?
    • Or do you keep trying different things and getting the same results?
  • Let’s quit beating around the bush – we’re talking about your weight, right?
    • Every year you recommit to losing weight
    • Sometimes it works for a while, sometimes it doesn’t work at all
    • Every year you weigh more rather than less
  • Is this about your health?
    • Has your doctor told you your weight is affecting your health?
    • Do you think you’ll be healthier if you lose weight?
  • Guess what? It’s not about health!
    • Weight is poorly correlated with health
    • What is bad for your health is having your weight go up and down as a result of extreme diets
    • People can improve their health at any weight with healthy lifestyle behaviors (not smoking, eatings fruits and veggies, being physically active, managing stress, getting enough sleep, etc)
  • So, does me giving you permission to stop worrying about your weight help?
    • Most people want to lose weight for reasons outside of health
    • Diets don’t work
      • 9 out of 10 people gain the weight back within 5 years
    • diets actually make things worse
      • different diets have different rules and different facts!
      • people end up getting mixed up about what they should and shouldn’t eat
      • people end up scared to eat
      • people learn that their bodies can’t be trusted
  • My wish for you and everyone out there is that you discover the joy and freedom of Intuitive Eating
    • It is truly life-changing to get out of the cycle of dieting and heal your relationship with food
    • IE is about
      • listening to the wisdom of your body
      • eliminating guilt/shame with eating
      • removing the value judgment around food
      • exercising for the right reasons
      • and so much more
    • Unfortunately, because weight loss is not guaranteed, most people are not ready to give IE a try
    • If you can start to come to terms with your body as it is now, you’ll be a big step closer
      • You don’t have to love your body like Lizzo does (tho wouldn’t that be great?!)
      • You just need to be ready to take the focus off of it while you work on other things
      • Try to quiet that mean voice in your head that shows up
        • when you look in the mirror
        • when you put on something that doesn’t fit
        • even when you dare to feel good about how you look
      • Fight that voice enough that it doesn’t dictate your actions
        • Now you are ready!
  • Does IE feel like giving up?
    • Sometimes people feel that way
    • In a way, I’m asking you to let go of an impossible dream
    • IE is actually a positive step for your health vs another diet that won’t work
    • It’s actually a focus on health instead of unrealistic expectations on your body
    • I don’t promise weight loss, but I do promise a healthier lifestyle and improved sense of well-being
      • Does that still feel like giving up?

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