[Muffie's Mom]

Excuses For Not Keeping Up With Your Lifestyle Changes

Changing habits is one of the most difficult challenges we human beings are facing. This also applies to changing food habits, and especially when you are used to eating what you want when you want it. When we feel defeated by this challenge it is easy to find excuses for not doing it. Here are some tips on what to do to get your mind "on track" again.

1. "I simply love good food, I will never be able to carry this diet out!"
There are two points worth commenting on in this statement. If you tell yourself THAT you will never be able to carry out your new lifestyle changes, I can almost guarantee you, you won't. What you should tell yourself is: "I definitely will be able to carry out this new way of eating" and repeat it as often as possible. If you do, your mind will trust you more and more and finally it will know this as the truth.

Who said that you can't eat good food? There are plenty of delicious foods you can eat and good healthy foods, too.

2. "I have tried this many times before and I'm always falling back to my old eating habits before I have reached my weight loss goal. "

1st of all, we are NOT dieting. So, why not do it right this time for changing your Lifestyle? What did you do wrong last time you dieted, so you flipped out from your weight loss program? And the time before that? And before that? Do you see a pattern here? Did you use the same excuses? Be aware of what you said to yourself to justify the quitting of your diet. Look at your mistakes in a positive way, learn from them and do not make the same mistake this time.

3. "I will not be able to do my work good enough when I have to starve every day."

If you have been eating healthy before, you know that this is BS. First, after a few days of little but healthy food - you will feel an increase in your energy. If you exercise in addition, the raise in energy will be even greater.

And which other person but yourself, said that you have to starve?

4. "My family and I always go to Sizzler's every Sunday - a tradition that we love."

If that is a family tradition you love, there is no reason to stop it. You can eat grilled meat and mix it with vegetables. Or if you prefer fruits and vegetables. Anyway, eat which ever combination you want but don't eat so much - especially of foods high in fat and sugar. If this is the only "freak-out" per week, go to Sizzler's, MacDonald's, Golden Coral or wherever and just be careful what you eat.

5. "I love to take a glass or two of cold beer when I'm sitting in the garden after dinner."

Do it, but not every day. If you limit it to let's say twice a week, you're on the safe side; You will still eat healthy, even with a few glasses of beer, vine or brandy per week. So, don't use this argu-ment for an excuse not to begin to eat healthy.

6. "I travel much in my job, and hav e to stay in hotels and eat the hotel's food. Most hotels will give you the food you order. If you're on a low fat diet, order low fat food or choose food low in fat from the buffet. The same with low carb diets; order meat, fish, low carb vegetables and even carbohydrate substitutes. So, if you really want to eat healthy, the hotel and traveling life is no valid excuse for not doing so.

7. "Many fat people seem to be very happy - why can't I just be happy with who I am?"

Maybe you can. The question you have to ask yourself is: Am I happy with myself now? If you can answer an honest "yes" to this question, stay away from weight loss diets. If your answer is "no", then start eating healthy.