02/04/2022
I CAN’T HAVE COOKIES!
Have you ever started a diet and told yourself that you can no longer have your favorite treats?
I’m giving up cookies. I’m done with those chewy, gooey, delicious treats. I can’t have them ever again because they make me fat even.
Has that worked for you (for longer than a few days…)?
Our brain is not unlike a toddler who is told not to do something. What do you think would happen if I told this little guy NOT to paint his arms…? Exactly, we’d have this brown mess all over the walls!
When we think “I can’t have a cookie”, all you can think about is the cookie in all it’s deliciousness. Before you know it, you’re head first in the cookie container and not just eating one, but the whole darn package.
Why does that happen? Our brain does not process negatives. When you say: “don’t think of the cookie”, all you can think about is the cookie.
Don’t eat bread or pasta or have that beer. The more you focus on what you CAN’T have, the more you’ll think about it.
So, how do you stop focusing on those foods you want to eat less of and be less tempted by?
You focus on the many foods you WANT to eat. The foods that allow you to feel full, energized, light and fit. The foods that allow you to feel balanced and lean. The foods that help you achieve the body and health you have always wanted.
A focus on fibrous vegetables, such as broccoli, asparagus, mixed greens and lean proteins, such as chicken, turkey, fish, and eggs will allow you to feel full quickly. This combination is self-limiting. There’s only so much broccoli and chicken breast you can eat before you’re full. I haven’t seen anyone binge on broccoli yet….
Does a balanced diet include treats here and there? You bet, it does. It’s all about the right dosage. And, when they’re eaten with enjoyment and not with guilt, you find yourself getting lots of enjoyment out of litt.e
So, make sure you focus on what you WANT to eat. You can have your cookie here and there too - guilt-free. But, what ultimately makes you feel and look like a million bucks is good food eaten with a healthy mindset.