Using Psychology
to Lose Weight
Hi, I’m Genevieve. Yesterday we talked about how I was getting ready to start a weight-loss regimen, and for me getting ready was making a good diet choice. Well, today, I’m reporting on the fact that I’m still toying with what to do about being tempted.
If you remember, I’m afraid I can be tempted all too easily by calorie-rich food. That’s been my history. I am going to be following a diet plan that puts me far away from such fattening food. But I know that all the best diet food in the world won’t be enough when that time comes. You know that time. It’s when all your resolve goes completely out the window, and there you are back again into an old pattern of eating that you haven’t yet done away with.
So here’s what I’m proposing for myself. I’m going to have a plan. Yes, a plan. And when that time comes, I’ll be ready for it. I’ll know what to do.
First, I’ll make a list of all the situations I used to be in where I was so tempted that I would automatically give in to temptation. Here are just a few of these me out of control eating situations: parties—any kind, holiday eating, nighttime eating, Sundays, brunches, snacking while watching TV. You get the idea; and these are only a few of the situations where I can’t stop eating food that makes me fat.
Then, I’ll plan what I’ll do when that situation is upon me. For example, I can’t do away with Sundays. They’re going to come each week like they always do. I could go out, away from my apartment, where I won’t be so tempted. I could do that. But that’s not very realistic. Although…I could do that at the beginning, when I just start dieting. If I can avoid Sundays at home for a while, I might even convince myself—a little—that I don’t have to (that’s “have” with a capital H, and an exclamation point worth of emphasis) give in to temptation. That will make me feel stronger.
But what will I do on all those other Sundays when I don’t or can’t go out and get away from what tempts me? I’ll have to have a plan for those Sundays too. I need to do some more thinking. I’ll get back to you on this.
You know, talking to you like this is really helping me shape myself up, not only to want to start dieting, but to want to start dieting and actually be ready for what losing weight by dieting really entails.
