As the Holiday season approached, I became more and more nervous and desperate to find something that would help me maintain my weight loss efforts throughout the season. I had been faithfully dieting for months and was enjoying the non- scale victories, weight loss, and body transformation that come with consistent exercise and eating a clean healthy diet. I dreaded the idea of gaining the weight back because of a few days of Holiday fun. Crazy to think a simple question could help me maintain my weight loss efforts!
Nothing like lunch with a skinny friend for perspective
Ironically, I scheduled lunch with a friend who sat down and announced she was obsessed with diets and diet products. I almost giggled since my friend is tall and svelte. Thankfully, I kept my reaction to myself while she went on to explain that she loses the same ten pounds multiple times a year and when she gains it back, she tries the latest and greatest diet or diet product to take the weight off.
Skinny girls struggle with their weight too
I sat speechlessly. Knowing that my “skinny friend” struggles with my weight loss nightmare was comforting on one hand and terribly alarming on the other. After all, if someone who most of us would perceive as perfectly fit struggles, is there hope for the rest of us?
I meandered throughout most of the day, brainstorming a silver bullet answer that would help me get through the holiday season without sabotaging my diet. Mindful eating has never been my strength, so I struggled to find the answer.
Later that day, my husband offered me a muffin and I started to take a bite. Within a second of it touching my lips, I declared,
“it’s not worth it.”
And you may find one of your old favs isn’t worth it anymore
Since blueberry muffins have been one of my favorite foods for over forty years, I was surprised by my own reaction.
I quickly realized that my reaction was brilliant and potentially the solution to my holiday dieting dilemma. What would happen if I asked myself if a food was worth it or not before I ate it?
Thanksgiving is my very favorite holiday. I love that my entire family gathers together and there is no pressure around present giving. In all honesty, I love Thanksgiving food and everything about it (except pumpkin pie). Thanksgiving would be the ultimate test for my diet saving question.
What does “worth it” mean to me?
As I prepared for the big day, I reflected on what “worth it” means to me. Was eating unhealthy foods worth regaining the inches I had lost, gaining the pounds I had worked so hard to lose, and giving up my endless list of NVS’s? (improved sleep, periods, mood, immune system, energy, and memory, in addition to, a migraine and acid reflux free life with brighter eyes, less bloat, a more toned body and glowing skin and the list goes on and on…….)
I breezed through Thanksgiving Day. I didn’t feel deprived or like I was on a diet. My favorite foods were put in front of me, but I wasn’t tempted. I simply made a choice. Once I answered the question, “is it worth it? ” The answer was simply “no” every single time.
Ironically, asking myself if it was worth it changed my entire mindset. I was no longer on a “diet” but “choosing” to eat healthily!
Could this simple question have really helped me maintain my weight loss efforts?
I have continued to ask myself the magical question, “Is it worth it?” over the last several days and all but one time the answer has been, “no”. Hopefully, I have found the silver bullet that my friends and millions of dieters across the World have been looking for! I’m not sure if it is the silver bullet of weight loss or if there is one, but it has helped me maintain my weight loss efforts!
Give it a try the next time you are in a sticky situation and let me know how it goes. Because…..
You are worth it!
Holiday Cheers!
Tanya
This is a huge challenge for me! I always fall apart around the holidays. Thanks for sharing!
I wish you the best this holiday season. You can do this!
Motivation is the basic tool for dieting.
You made a brave choice to say no to foods that might imbalanced your diet plan.
I ask myself the same question too. My weight goes up and down when i follow some sort of trending fad like paleo , whole 30, etc…Honestly, I just eat healthy for my own health concerns
A perfect way of keeping fit
I’ am the person who struggling about diet 🙁 I feel you in the same way. it is a person who actually have self control about eating! especially it’s already holiday season month it’s so hard to making diet with a lot of yummy food! SELF CONTROL is the key!
You’ve got this!
Glad you are no longer on a “diet” but “choosing” to eat healthily. Keep sharing your journey.
Is it worth it. I always repeat that to myself!
Awesome and thank you for following!
I never knew they are so helpful. Great informative post and educative too. I got to learn so many things.
Nice. I have to keep this in mind specially now that the holidays are coming.
Congratulations! Choosing the right food is probably the best solution in achieving a healthy and fit body.
I am going to start asking my food the same same. I hope it helps. So far I haven’t been able to lose pounds.
I hope it helps you. Let me know how it goes!
Yes it is really worth it to take care of our body , no one will do this for you except you. Thank you for this great sharing.
That is so true! Thank you for following!
It is never about following a diet, it is always about doing what is right for your body. Thank you sharing your experience.
Nice post. It will help me to maintain my diet too. Thanks for sharing.
I absolutely love this post because it’s applicable to so many different people. I’m currently on a weight gain journey and I find the “is it worth it?” so helpful as a motivator. I just have to tell myself to think Yes (even though my mind wants to say no to everything).
Thank you for following and best wishes for your journey!
Glad you’ve found a technique that works for you! I’ll have try this for myself as I’m trying to make healthier choices as well!
Hope it works for you! Thank you for following!
such a motivaional post. thanks for sahring.
I love it! ‘Is it worth it?’ is going to be my own regular question from now on. I guess it works because you realize that either way you lose something, so you are able to choose what you would rather lose? A moment is not worth all the time I took to get what I really want.
Yes! thank you for following!
Have you ever try keto diet?
Yes! I have tried keto. It wasn’t a good diet for me. The high amount of fats made me my stomach feel like it was going to explode at any minute. Have you tried it?
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