Dr. Foster’s damn-good diet, Pt. 6
by Mira and Charles on February 8th, 2010When you fall off the wagon
First, an update. Lost another pound last week. Right on target. And I feel particularly good about it because I had to negotiate the massive Super Bowl hurdle. But it wasn’t really all that hard. It ain’t rocket science. Here’s what got me through it. Tips: Don’t buy food you’re gonna regret eating. Eat your vegetables (I had some guacamole but ate it with baby carrots.) Control your portions. Eat food you enjoy (I had some sautéed mushrooms which I like a lot.)
OK, now for this last blog (for now) on Dr. Foster’s damn-good diet. Got an email from someone a few days ago: “I ate 6 Oreos last night at midnight—I am scared old habits are returning. Must re-focus.” And the question in front of us is, What do you do if you slip? A great question. Because here’s the thing: there’s no if about it. We all slip and fall off the wagon. But one of the big differences between successful and less successful dieters is being able to rebound from a mistake.
Here’s where it gets hard. Most people are overweight because they overeat, and we overeat because that’s how we deal with our emotions. Every emotion, good or bad, but especially bad, is a trigger to overeating. So if you slip and eat six Oreos, or if you go into your Whole Foods to pick up some apples and you walk out with apples and a slice of pepperoni pizza, or you find you’ve just stood in the kitchen eating peanut butter right out of the jar, feeling bad about that can lead to even more overeating well into the next day.
But, you might wonder, how else should we think about it? If we don’t feel badly, then we’ll just continue to fall into all our old bad habits. Right?
Wrong.
The solution isn’t feeling badly. The solution is forgiving yourself so you can get back on track. The key is that person writing, “Must re-focus.” And so here’s what you say to yourself when you slip. “Ooops. Sigh. OK, slips will happen. Can’t beat myself up for it; no point in that. I never pretended to be perfect. BUT I have a really good plan that has worked for me and will continue to work for me. And I’m just gonna go back to the plan. And I’ll be OK.”
A very wise colleague once said that the difference between neurotics (now that’s an old term!) and healthy people is that neurotics say “If only” and healthy people say “Next time.” It’s all about looking forward, never looking back.
But while you’re at it, you delve into why you slipped a little. Maybe there’s something you can learn. For example, maybe you let yourself get too hungry, always a mistake. Maybe you’ve been depriving yourself of something you really like. If you like Oreos, maybe you could make two-Oreo packets (there are 55 calories in one Oreo) and have one packet a day. That’s only a little over a hundred calories, but it’s well spent because it makes you happy.
Another possibility is some unmet emotional need. Anxiety about the coming day. Regret over the previous day. It could be anything. Fine. But notice I said “unmet emotional need.” An emotion is the way we package our needs. You can always convert an emotion into a need. Then address that need.
And another possibility is just that you took your eye off the ball. It’s hard to always stay focused. Even the very best athletes will lose focus for a brief period in the middle of a big game. It happens. And then, yes, all you have to do is re-focus. Forgive, and re-focus.
So there you have it. These last six blogs are the ultimate, wonderful diet I modestly call Dr. Foster’s damn-good diet. State of the art both physiologically and psychologically. And very flexible. Here are all the links to help you go through it.
–Introduction, accountability, and support:
http://www.chestnuthillinstitute.com/blog/196
–The perfect diet for you: how to figure out just how to eat to feel satisfied and lose weight:
http://www.chestnuthillinstitute.com/blog/197
–Staying motivated:
http://www.chestnuthillinstitute.com/blog/198
–Understanding the emotional issues that might get in your way:
http://www.chestnuthillinstitute.com/blog/199
–Understanding your personal and life-style issues:
http://www.chestnuthillinstitute.com/blog/200
–And, finally, rebounding when you fall off the wagon:
http://www.chestnuthillinstitute.com/blog/201
Well, that’s it. Stay tuned for updates. And most of all, let me hear from you, how well you’re doing, obstacles you’ve encountered. I need your feedback. After all, this is a radical experiment: can a common-sense, hype-free, fad-free, evidence-based diet reach people in a world of hype and nonsense? I know it can. And I’m putting my name on the line to show the trust I have in this diet and in you.
Warmly, Charles
