Do you sometimes give in and eat because you feel deprived?
But stop and think about the whole concept of deprivation. Like it or not, to successfully manage your weight, you have to set boundaries around your eating.
And even if it makes you feel deprived, sometimes you may have to turn down a wonderful piece of cake or a your favorite cookies.
In other areas of life, deprivation happens everywhere. In fact, you deprive yourself of a lot of things because you’d rather have the benefits you get as a result.
For example, because you prefer getting a paycheck, you sacrifice spending your days skiing or playing at the beach.
And if you value keeping your marriage, you probably deprive yourself of going on dates.
In the same way, depriving yourself of dessert might mean that you’re able to successfully manage your weight.
If you can’t get past your struggle with feeling deprived, try switching it around by asking yourself, “What does my weight deprive me of?”
Then make a list of the things you’re missing out on by being overweight.
Rather than dwelling on how deprived you feel because you can’t have a piece of chocolate cake, work on improving your life and your health so you can enjoy all the things you’re missing.
Today’s assignment (My answers are in blue)
1. Write about “poor me.” Talk about any situations in which you feel deprived, abused or singled out because of your dieting efforts.
Poor me…whenever I go to gatherings at the my friends’ houses, it feels like everyone else is drinking a lot, eating everything, and having dessert.
2. Now reverse the question and ask yourself, “What does my weight deprive me of?” Make a list of all the things you miss out on because of your weight.
Wearing my favorite jeans and other cuter clothes, stomach not feeling good, blood pressure being high.
3. Measure this list against the times you might feel deprived around food. Write some notes about how changing your life could help you get some of the things you’re currently missing.
By being willing to deprive myself of some food choices, I’ll feel better physically as well as have better self-esteem and confidence.