You’re on a Diet: What are you Feeding Yourself?

You’re trying to lose weight and live a healthy lifestyle. Congratulations! Now I have to ask you, “What are you feeding yourself?” I’m not asking what you are eating. I’m asking what is motivating you to succeed? What kinds of things are you feeding yourself? Your mind, not your body. What kind of diet are you supplying your mind?

The material you read, view, and generally surround yourself with can make or break your weight loss success. Are you on a steady diet of entertainment news where you constantly see unattainable body images? Are you watching a stream of doom and gloom news shows that depress your spirit and sap your energy?

Or are you reading encouraging, inspirational books and magazines that spur you on to greater things? Do you have copies of health and fitness related magazines strewn across your coffee table or bedside table? Are copies of inspirational books (like mine!) on your Kindle for easy access when you need a motivational boost? Are the movies and television shows you watch supporting your efforts or undermining them? (I’m not sure watching cooking shows and food-related channels would be the best choice for you at this point in time.)

What you put into your mind directly affects what you put into your body. You need to feed yourself the kind of material that helps you succeed, not the kind that holds you back from your goals. Splurge on some healthy cooking magazines like Cooking Light. Read up on nutrition with Nutrition Action Newsletter. Buy Men’s Health or Shape magazines instead of your usual US Weekly or People.

You’ll find that feeding your mind a diet of encouragement and motivation makes the weight loss road less intimidating and increases your chances of success. Watching and reading these types of media reinforces your goals and determination.

You can do it. I know you can. But you should give yourself the best odds of success possible. Think about the diet for your mind right now we’ll deal with the diet for your body in coming posts.

Win When You Lose:  Available on Kindle and coming later this week in paperback: www.amazon.com/author/susanmcdaniel

A Guide to Successful Dieting

Thoughts About Reverse Weight Discrimination

One of my guilty pleasures is reality TV. I admit it. It’s a disease. But sometimes something happens that makes you take notice. This happened during a recently aired “Reunion” show where an absurdly skinny and bodaciously endowed (implants) lady bemoaned a reverse weight discrimination situation.

They call her the “Persian Barbie” because she does have that Barbie-esque physique. Throughout the season, other cast members took aim at her figure and diet. Snide remarks, not the least of which was the “Barbie” tag, flew all around her.

Her point was that it was politically correct and acceptable for her weight and figure to be maligned. It was not politically correct or acceptable for her or anyone else to comment on the overweight cast members.

This is true. Underweight and naturally skinny people often suffer jokes and slander, just as overweight people are maliciously attacked. The lesson learned is that it is not acceptable to judge anyone based on their weight, nor is it anyone’s right to comment on it. Many naturally thin people exist at the mercy of their genetic makeup, just as do those of us that struggle with weight issues.

Tolerance, understanding, and acceptance are needed on all fronts. We can be jealous of those people who remain thin with no real effort, but we must not begrudge them their good fortune. We must treat others as we would like to be treated.

www.amazon.com/author/susanmcdaniel  Your copy of Win When You Lose awaits you here.

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