Teaching an ‘Old Dog’ a new trick

Many times words start out meaning one thing, and then over time, because people have started using them incorrectly, and it catches on – on purpose or not, the meanings either change, or the word has multiple definitions. For example, the word diet. Originally, it simply referred to what was regularly eaten, it had nothing to do with trying to lose weight, which is the definition most people think of when you say this four-letter word.

Over the years I have been on a multitude of diets, use the more recent meaning of the word. I’m not very good with them. It would seem that just about everyone I know is doing something that works for them, and they are passionate about it! Although I’m thrilled they have found what works for them, I know what works for me, I’ve just had a hard time being flexible. I am an ‘all or nothing’ type of person, problem with that is with my duality comes to play, as mentioned briefly on the About page. If I tell myself that I cannot eat something, even if it will make me physically ill, there are times I become like a two year old throwing a temper tantrum. I will do anything and everything I can to get what I want, even if I know I will regret it later. It may be something I haven’t wanted in years, but because I’ve told myself “you cannot have this”, it will be the only thing I will want. The moment I go off the ‘bandwagon‘, I go nuts, and just eat whatever I want. Sadly, this will go on for months.

As per my previous post, The spirit is willing…, I was recently motivated by my 3 daughters; I’m making changes that will work for me, in several areas of my life,and this is one of them.

The main change I’m doing is I’m not going to ‘diet’, I’m going to eat. I’m not telling myself I cannot have specific foods, instead, I’m going eat what I am really hungry for.  No more all or nothing for me. There are no more rules*, there are no more list of ‘cans’ and ‘cannots’. Maybe now I’ll be able to eat what I’m really hungry for, and not what I’m dying to have simply because I’ve taken a stand against it.

*I do have standards though, I try to avoid processed foods as much as possible, no high fructose corn syrup, no-GMOs, that sort of thing. I’m sure I’ll discuss that kind of thing in the future.