Tackling Weight Struggles with Baby Steps
A listener e-mailed me with a question as to how to apply “baby steps” to her weight struggle, here is her dilemma:
Hi Renee, I know you must be so busy with all your endeavors but I hope you will be able to answer this at some point. I love your podcasts and listen to them over and over and often! Although I haven’t lost a great deal of weight, I can see small, natural and easy changes in the way I eat and approach food in general. I am starting to feel ready to be more focused on my weight loss efforts (I would like to lose about 20 lbs that I have struggled with for most of my life) and this is my question. I have finally understood that the way for me to truly accomplish anything lasting is to approach change in baby steps, adding one habit at a time. I am comfortable taking my time, making sure each change is truly a habit before I go on the next step. (BTW, the website Flylady has been life changing for me in learning how to take care of my home and myself. She starts by having you keep your kitchen sink clean and shiny. When you have that habit down you go on to the next, etc, etc,.) This probably sounds like a stupid question, but what should my baby steps be? I think the first one is setting my intention every day (and I love to listen to podcast #3 to start my day) but then somehow I got tripped up on where I should go from there. I seem to jump around from “sitting down when I eat” or eating 5 fruits/veggies per day, etc, etc, but I don’t feel secure in what the next step should be. I have had success with Weight Watchers before but it just doesn’t feel quite right now. Do you have any suggestions?
Thank you Renee for all that you do (and I truly mean that even if you don’t have time to answer this question).
Linda
Here’s my response:
Hi Linda,
I recommend you start be setting a foundation of inner alignment. With this foundation, the behavior changes will be much easier as you won’t be conflicted about being healthy and slender. That is addressed in an early episode. I also offer a powerful guided journey called “Sabotage Self Sabotage” available on my site: http://mindforbody.hotdoodle.com/?section=377 if you are interested.
Thanks!
Renee
Mia said,
December 17, 2008 @ 10:10 pm
Renee,
I just started listening to your podcast. I think its very motivational and i think that is what we need most to pursue any endeavor.I have already subscribed to your podcast and listen to it regularly. I had a similar question as the person above and was glad she asked it but your answer seemed very vague. What do you mean when you say we need a foundation? what kind of foundation? and directing us to buy another book just seems a little demotivating to me because i have bought a lot of books like that, the one book that for sure solve your problems. And I bet a lot of people in search of some written answers to their problems, me being one of them found you and you seem to be truly inspiration and really out there to help others. I was very much motivated to begin my journey to my dreams. However when directing us to read yet another book, spend yet another 30 dollars I really begin to question the integrity of your efforts. I am sorry if I am coming off as rude, it isnt my intention. I just like everyone else is someone who is tired of trying so many things that everyone promises is going to work and spending so many dollars. If your mission truly is to solve the weight loss problems in the world, you will not be offended by my statement.
admin said,
December 30, 2008 @ 9:28 pm
Thanks for your comment. I recommended a guided journey, not a book. By foundation, I mean that in order for weight loss to last, imho, one must have no inner conflict about it. In other words, one’s whole being has to be on board. When that’s the case, the behaviors become easy and natural. The journey is a way, in addition to the over 60 free podcasts I have already provided, to reach that state. I offer the option of the purchased journey because this listener seemed to want more -that’s why she emailed me.
I hope that helps.
Take care,
Renee