Published on January 8, 2022
Let me ask you this: Have you ever wanted something so badly and then went on to achieve (and maintain) that goal without any self-imposed restrictions?
Did you cut back (even just a little) on all-night partying and drinking in college when you went on to law or medical schools? Or, did the rigorous “for all the marbles” course work and residency responsibilities restrict you?
Did you continue the weekly weekend girls- or boys-night-out after you got married and had kids? Or, did those wedding vows, family obligations and commitments restrict you?
Did you continue to smoke after being lucky enough to survive a bout with lung cancer? Or, did your fear of losing your other lung restrict you?
The point is: We can’t always get what we want by doing the same old thing . . . and that certainly applies even more so if the same old thing is a thing we’re trying to change and are unhappy with! So, if we move away from the same old thing and finally do achieve a goal we’ve set for ourselves, we certainly can’t go back to “the same old thing” and think we can maintain the goal (the new thing) we’ve reached!
One of the questions I’ve been asked so often over two decades by people who need to lose weight—so much so that I have it listed at my web site under the FAQs—is:
“Is the program restrictive in any way?”
My answer is always the same:
“… restrictive as opposed to what? . . . the way you’ve BEEN eating up ’til now? . . . which resulted in why you’re reaching out to me?”
To have absolutely NO restrictions means to eat what you want when you want, as much as you want or as little as you want (or not eat at all). If you are overweight or obese, you are not going to lose weight on that kind of program—and you’re not going to feel well or age well in the long run.
It is not restrictive to eat from ALL of the food groups every day. Will you have to give up entirely or severely curtail many, if not all (depending on what those may be) of the food and drink items that got you fat in the first place? It depends . . . and you will, respectively. If you’re honest with yourself, you know you need discipline in your eating habits, and you must learn portion control not only for weight loss but, more importantly, to keep it off.
Don’t worry about things you’re giving up. Instead, concern yourself with what you’re getting . . . and that is good habits and better health . . . and all that goes with it.
Remember: If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got.
Slimcerely yours℠,