Diets don't work. Do these words surprise you? Depress you? Make you want to throw up your hands and eat a box of Twinkies out of sheer frustration?
It's no wonder so many people who embark on traditional diets give up after only a few days or weeks without experiencing the results they so desperately want. Most weight loss programs require you to change a large number of deeply ingrained habits, give up your favorite foods and/or count calories, points, carbs, etc., until the entire joy of eating is gone! This approach generally results in participants feeling deprived and poorly equipped to permanently adopt healthier behaviors. Eventually, many dieters give in to their cravings and are left with an overwhelming sense of failure.
So, if diets don't work, what does?
Experiencing the essence of what you want right now by choosing to BE healthy with a non-diet approach!
Identifying what "being healthy" means to you is an important and powerful step in achieving your goals. For example, do you want to be more active? Have more fun with your kids? Spend some time in nature each day?
You can transform your dreams into reality by using the BE-DO-HAVE model. This is a shift from the old HAVE-DO-BE paradigm many of us were raised with, where our desired state of being, such as happiness or vibrant health, hinges on what we have or don't have. For example, if only I had money, I could join a gym and lose this excess weight...and then I'd be happy. If only I wasn't overweight, I could play volleyball...and then I'd be healthy.
The trouble with this old way of thinking is it ties our sense of well-being and accomplishment to a set of external circumstances outside ourselves, rather than linking them to our inner thoughts, beliefs, and emotions, which we can change to improve our lives and create the outcomes we want. Diets don't work, because they start DOING before embarking on the intention and commitment involved in the BEING stage of the process.
Reality is actually the reverse of the old paradigm. Under the BE-DO-HAVE model, BE comes first. BE is nothing more than energetic reality - you can choose and shape it at will. When you decide what you want to BE, you take control of your life by identifying what you want your reality to look like and giving yourself a clear picture of the goal you are working to achieve. If you want to release weight, first decide to BE healthy. Then act as if you've already achieved your intention. Support your desired state of BEING with positive behaviors, such as visualization and guided imagery, that reinforce your goal.
Once you've determined what you want to BE, the next step is to DO things that are congruent with your desired outcome. For example, to BE healthy, DO activities that health-conscious individuals engage in, such as exercising regularly, eating appropriate portion sizes, being mindful, and getting enough sleep on a regular basis.
Keep in mind that using a non-dieting approach means foods are neither good nor bad, just as you are neither good nor bad for eating them. The key is choosing what you eat mindfully and with joy in every bite. If you want a piece of cheesecake, go ahead and enjoy it - provided you've made a conscious decision to eat it.
When you act consistently with your desires, you ultimately transform them from energetic reality (BEING) into physical reality (HAVING). This approach is about choosing activities and behaviors that are aligned with what you want. You, not some frustrating set of external circumstances, are in the driver's seat. The more congruent your actions are with your desired state of BEING, the more quickly you will see your life transform.
You can, once and for all, throw dieting out the window and achieve your perfect healthy body. As you begin to experience success, your confidence will soar, and you will feel a heightened sense of joy and well-being. So forget dieting. Allow the BE-DO-HAVE model to help you create the life you truly want.
Pat Altvater, M.A., author and trainer, is a Certified Law of Attraction Coach whose passions include presenting keynotes, lectures, workshops, and retreats for corporations, organizations, and/or individuals for over 20 years. You can learn more about her Women Outsmarting Weight™ program through her website ([http://www.outsmartweight.com]).
