“I’ll treat myself tonight, but I’m starting my diet on Monday!”
Have you said this sentence in your mind? If so, it’s an indicator that you may be in the cycle of yo-yo dieting.
It’s so common…
The cycle of yo-yo dieting, meaning either “on” a diet or “off” one has become part of diet culture. It’s been ingrained in us because the diet industry benefits from our weight fluctuations. Think about it…the industry wants lifelong customers, so why would they ever sell you a healthy lifestyle where you lose the weight and keep it off for good?
Have you gotten caught in this cycle? If so, this might be why…
You’re going for quick fixes
Consider this. If a specific diet or lifestyle is not something you’re willing to do for the rest of your life, you can bet the results won’t last either. After all, how could they? If you do an intense 20-day diet program and lose 10 lbs, you’d have to maintain that way of eating to maintain the results. It’s just not realistic or healthy long-term.
You’re not doing the mental/emotional work
You may be incredible at starting new diets, getting motivated, and making your way to spin class in the morning. However, if you’re not doing the mental and emotional work along with it, it likely won’t last.
When I say mental/emotional work, what I mean is getting curious about yourself. Asking questions like…
What’s causing this urge to eat sweets? What am I really feeling right now?
What was the thought that caused me to go off plan and eat that bread?
What am I making not losing weight mean?
What causes me to give up?
Are you ready to get out of the yo-yo dieting cycle and start making health-conscious changes that last?
If so, I would encourage you to get out your journal and identify the ways in which you’ve gotten caught in this loop. It’s important to become aware of old patterns in order to form new ones!
Next week I’ll share how you can lose weight healthfully, and maintain it for the rest of your life!
In health & happiness,
Jamie
