Weight-loss and Maintenance of weight-loss
feels hard because it IS hard.

How does one get past the desire so satisfy one’s instant desire
enough to stay on track for a long-term goal?

 That’s a tough one.

We might think we want to reach our weight goals more than anything, but sometimes, we obviously don’t…because our behavior shows that we want to use emotional eating as a way to cope MORE.

I find that it helps to engage in positive self-talk and surround oneself with positive images and thoughts. Frequently running my playlist of positive videos helps me do this,and you might find that to be a helpful tool for you as well. 
 This Tool can be found here on DietHobby in the section:
RESOURCES, Words of Wisdom playlist.

The world is full of emotion-causing events, some good, some bad. We have to want to achieve our weight goals
more than we want to feel food in our mouths, taste its deliciousness and feel overly full.
We have to want something else more than we want food.
This is going to be an individual matter, and can be different for everyone.

 Some TIPS to help with the instant gratification issue are:

* Track all your food in a computer software program,
like DietPower or something similar.

* Only have a small portion of a food one craves.

* Have none at all of a food one craves IF it is going to trigger a binge; 
run away from the danger zone where temptation exists.

* Choose an eating plan and work to stick to it,
whether it is 3 meals a day and no snacks; 
or a larger amount of mini-meals; or counting calories or carbs; or etc. 

* Drink plenty of water and zero calorie beverages.

* Make sure you always get enough protein.

* ALWAYS order small, and before you begin eating,
put part of it in a to-go box.

* Use small plates and small bowls.

Sometimes we are own worst enemy.
We can choose to build ourselves up
with encouragement and motivational thoughts,
or tear ourselves apart for a perceived failure or mistake
which limits our ability to move forward.

Do you say things about yourself
that you wouldn’t say out loud to a friend?

I am choosing to consider myself worthy and capable,
and working to build hope and courage in my life
which helps me to pursue my goals.

  We can use our words
to help encourage and motivate ourselves.

If you want to start a daily practice
of working to fill your mind with positive thoughts,
perhaps it will help you to frequently run the following playlist
which automatically plays my positive sayings
back-to-back. It contains about 10 minutes of short videos
but, if you choose, you can watch only a little bit of it.

 To run the Playlist of positive sayings, click HERE. 

For those who are following my “Ask Grandma” videos
click to see my latest one: “How Much Is Enough”
which is located in DietHobby under RESOURCES, Videos, Ask Grandma.

                       

Most of us have days where we feel that we have tried
and tried but our results are still going nowhere.
We can’t seem to get inspired and excited
about weight-loss and weight-loss maintenance.

We’d like to take a break from it all,
but the food-intake behavior involved with that
wouldn’t maintain our weight,
and we’d only pile on more pounds.

Motivation can only come from inside,
No one is going to come along
and smack us in the face to get us going.

  So what to do?

For me, this is where Persistence, Patience and Consistency comes in.
No matter how I feel, I keep on working …in some manner…
toward keeping my food-intake at or below my calorie burn level.
I continue to record all my food into DietPower every day,
and I work to focus my mind to reflect on positive thoughts.

Eventually, my feelings will shift into a more positive area,
and there’s a good chance that when they do,
my body will still be in the “normal” weight range.
 No Magic,
just a determination toward my committment
to continue on with making a consistent effort.

Many Dieters become involved in the endless search for WHY.

This quote describes a common dieting thought process:

“I sailed right through yesterday feeling great about ….........
and then I decided to to stretch the diet to allow .....…………
The result was a binge after dinner.
I went in the freezer this morning to figure out what I had eaten:
it was ………………........................................................
Why did I do it?
I think it was because……………....................................”

It is often good to analyze one’s successes and obstacles
in order to look for a pattern and form a plan of action.

However, self-analysis can become a substitute for Action.
It offers a temporary refuge from the reality of the obesity
that one despises in themselves,
and provides them with emotional relief,
when they can not bring themselves to actually do
what it takes to leave their obese condition. 
 It's like a passenger on the Titanic saying,
"I'm not getting off this ship until I know WHY it is sinking."

Thinking can facilitate a change in one’s eating behavior,
but such a change must be implemented by Action,
and not be a substitute for it.

I'm just saying.

All of us have people, places and things that we hold dear,
but a value is a belief or a philosophy that is meaningful.
Whether we are consciously aware of them or not, 
every person has a core set of personal values.

Values can range from the commonplace, such as the belief in hard work
and/or punctuality, to those that are more psychological, such as self-reliance,
concern for others, and harmony of purpose.

What do you value most? What are the guides for how you behave,
or are components for you of a valued way of life?

These issues are important when considering one's goals
for weight-loss and for maintenance.  How important is this to you....truly.
Is what it takes for you to lose and maintain a normal weight 
... the effort of lower-calorie food intake, and exercise... 
worth the trade-off for you, personally?

  If it isn't, then don't do it.