Second Lesson Learned From Dieting

Let's just dive into the second lesson I've learned from yo-yo dieting…

Start eating how you would eat if you were (add your goal weight/size here). 

This is not how you eat now. If it was, you would be at your goal weight. 

You have to start thinking about the future you. You, at (insert natural weight here), how does she eat? 

• What energizes her?
• What fills her up?
• How many meals does she have?
• What does she say no to?
• How does she grocery shop?
• What are her go-to restaurants and menu items?
• What healthy limits does she set for herself?

I know for me, I didn't want to be buying a shake mix every month at $120. I knew I didn't want to say no to potatoes, rice, quinoa, and oatmeal for the rest of my life. I also decided I liked having a little bit of cheese and corn sometimes. 

But, I also knew that some of these things made me eat in excess which leaves me feeling depleted with spiraling thoughts of self-loathing.

Once I got clear on what/how I wanted to eat, it was a "no" to expensive weight loss products, keto, and paleo.  It was also a "no" to a lot of sugar and processed food.

I had to figure out the Amanda Diet.

The Amanda Diet that energized her, allowed all nutrients, and also didn't make me go crazy in my head, thinking about all the things I couldn't have thus making me want to eat more.

When I figured this out, the weight came off slowly, consistently, and has stayed off.

So what is your "diet"? How do you eat when you're at your natural weight?

Here is where my clients start to tell me that they don't know. 

They don't know because they've tried everything and nothing works.

My friend, that is the enemy. But if you feel like you're in this place, I have some advice for you.

1. Eat food closer to God's hand than men.  

God also made fruits, vegetables, grains, and animals to eat. 

He did not make flour, but he made the wheat. He didn't make apple juice, but he did make the apple. God did not make the sugar, but made the sugar cane. 

We can pull some ideas of what our bodies are made to run on by scripture. 

"Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see. So, he agreed to this and tested them for ten days.

At the end of the ten days, they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who at the royal food." Daniel 1:12-15

This comes from Daniel. He asked King Nebuchadnezzar so change his diet from the other servants. 

Not out of rebellion but by using good judgment (a sound reminder for us to use good judgment thinking about what to eat). 

At the end of the test, he was looking better than all the rest.

Now, I don't know what the royal food was. This isn't so much about telling you what to stay away from as it is letting us know what WE SHOULD FOCUS ON. Our bodies thrive on vegetables and water.  

This doesn't mean you can't have other things, but this is an excellent place to start when you want to know what you, at your natural weight, eats and drinks.

One last point I want to make about God's creation. I don't think he intended us to cut out/ limit whole nutrient groups such as fat or carbs. Dietary fat is not bad. Carbs are not the enemy. Protein is not the enemy (or magic part of the equation). 

Cutting out whole groups of macros is not necessary for weight loss, nor advised.  

Look at what God made. Take an avocado, for example. It has fiber, carbs, fat, and a little protein. Not to mention vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. It was created to fill you and fuel you. 

God created our bodies. He created food for our bodies to be nourished with. Stick to what the creator provides in all forms. 

Here is the takeaway friends…

**How you lose weight is how you are going to KEEP the weight off. **

Choose wisely.

I can't tell you how many times I would jump on a fad diet bandwagon. I thought, "I'll do this for 30 days, feel better." I never took the time to stop and question, "Can I do this forever?"

Honestly, I was looking for a quick fix. I wanted results fast. 

When I was on a diet, it was more about lasting one more day "following the rules" rather than creating healthy habits and a healthy mindset.

I wish I would have chosen wisely sooner.

I pray you take some time today. 

How do you, at (insert your natural weight), fuel your temple, and think about food?

Which leads to next week's blog… you don't want to miss it. Let's talk about what I learned related to self-control and my mind around food and my body. Hopefully, you can learn this lesson sooner and begin to lose weight now.

If you're struggling to visualize your future self and how she eats, lives, thinks, I encourage you to sign up for a FREE coaching consultation. Let's dive in together to start bringing to life that future you.