Today, I really don’t care! I don’t care about healthy eating or doing my exercise.
I certainly don’t care about doing nurturing activities or things that might protect me from emotional eating. Instead, I want to eat whatever I like, take a nap instead of exercising and hunt for some great cookies.
It’s been really hot and humid here in Iowa, and I think I’m just tired and worn down. So it’s decided. Today, I don’t care about any of it. But wait… is that really how I feel? Hmmm, on second thought…
In Day 17 in 100 MORE Days of Weight Loss, I tell about an old way of deciding about your live life. Using a flower such as a daisy, you pull off one petal at a time while saying the two phrases, “He loves me; he loves me not.” Whichever one you say as you remove the last petal provides the answer to your love life.
Which petal did you pull today?
Sometimes your weight-loss efforts might feel as random as this flower petal game. The only difference is that you’re trying to decide whether you care or don’t care about losing weight.
Some days, you are certain that you care. Then a few days later, you decide to skip your workout and eat whatever you want. You just pulled out the I don’t care petal.
But what if that petal comes up a lot? Maybe you care during the week, but don’t care on weekends. Unfortunately, the don’t care days can undo the progress you made on the days you did care. Eventually, weeks or even months can go by without any progress on losing weight.
How to start caring again
If you’re struggling with “not caring,” don’t assume there’s something wrong with you or that you lack willpower or self-discipline. Instead, when stress and life challenges drain your energy, losing weight moves a lot lower on your priority list.
I think that’s what’s going on with me. But here’s a time when I have to take my own advice from my book and use these three steps to start caring again.
1. Figure out what’s bothering you
When you don’t feel like sticking with your diet plan, it doesn’t mean you don’t care about it anymore. Instead, it’s usually a sign that something else requires your attention. Identify some of the things that are demanding your energy and focus right now. Perhaps you’re stressed at work or your kids are bored and it’s another month until school starts again.
2. Do it anyway!
You don’t stop being a parent because you’re not in the mood. In the same way, you don’t have to stop caring about your weight just because you have other things on your mind. So with your diet plan, widen the boundaries or relax the rules if you need to, but don’t drop out of the game. Pull out your menus, plan your meals and start chopping the lettuce for your next salad.
3. Focus on actions, not feelings
On days when you don’t “feel like it,” get methodical about your actions. Eat some fruit instead of those chips. Drag yourself out the door and take a walk–even five or ten minutes can make a difference in your mood.
At the end of the day, the outcome is the same. It didn’t matter whether or not you felt like doing these things–you still made progress!
I’m so glad I reminded myself of these steps for getting back to caring. It actually helped a lot and I”m ready to head out the door for a walk. When I get back, I’ll eat a protein bar instead of a cookie and I’ll start planning a healthy dinner for this evening. I just pulled out the “I do care” petal!