Ready For Your Food-Freedom Check-List?
If you’re thinking about getting off the old diet/binge roller-coaster and stepping into a more enjoyable, sustainable and sane food-life, here’s a personal Check List for you.
Check in with the 7 statements below. They’ll give you a good idea about how ready you are for this kind of change journey.
But first.
Here are 2 foundations of liberated eating we need to know:
To live peacefully with food long-term, you will need to ENJOY your food and your relationship with it. You won’t be able to maintain what you do not enjoy.
To live at a comfortable weight* you will need to fairly consistently consume the amount of fuel that maintains that weight.
In other words, this is about life-style. Not a wagon to fall off and get back on repeatedly.
No matter how long you’ve struggled with food, you can live peacefully with it.
You can enjoy your food
AND
feel good in your mind and body!
If that sounds good to you - stick with me here.
I’m gonna take you through some Basics that I teach inside our Liberated Eating Membership.
These will empower you:
To sit at the table (no matter what’s on it) with no anxiety at all.
To enjoy a steady weight.
To have energy to spare.
To wake up thinking about Life instead of breakfast.
It’s a glorious way to live!
Does this sound too good to be true?
If food is a frustration for you right now, instead of a joy - I see you.
I care deeply about you and your food-life.
And I know you can be free.
I’ve worked with hundreds of people who are living well with food now, and you are no different than the rest of us.
If we can do it, so can you.
Take a few minutes to read through these 7 statements. We live by these in our TLE Community. If you can get on board with them – or are willing to move in their direction – you’ll know that you just might be ready for this healing adventure!
CHECK-IN #1: I AM WILLING TO FOCUS
Making a lifestyle change takes focus and attention. You’re actively putting new patterns in place where old ones have been for a long time, which requires an awareness of your own behavior.
In our Membership, we make it a practice of taking about 10 minutes a day, most days, to focus, learn and grow.
CHECK-IN # 2: I AM WILLING TO DEFINE WHAT I REALLY WANT
This means moving your attention way beyond the bathroom scales. That number does not define you.
Look out at your own horizon and decide how you want to FEEL a year from now.
Find some words that mean the most to you. Do you want to feel stronger? More confident? More fit? More agile and flexible? Have more zest and energy for the people and places you love?
Begin to own these words as your personal identity.
CHECK-IN #3: I AM WILLING TO DO THESE BASICS
This is baseline for us humans.
Sleep enough.
Hydrate enough.
Have enough satisfying food easily available to you.
Do these 3 things, intentionally. Not perfectly of course, but pretty darn consistently. As we take care of these essentials, a lot of our cravings take care of themselves.
CHECK-IN #4: I AM WILLING TO ADOPT THESE 4 BEHAVIORS
You were born doing these things and your body and brain love them.
This will take practice at first – but I promise you that these behaviors are not nearly as difficult as dieting was.
In fact, you will grow to absolutely LOVE them. Over time, they will transform your food-life into something so rewarding!
How to Eat So You F.E.E.L. GREAT:
1) F - Feed yourself when you’re physically hungry (not emotionally)
2) E - Eat food you will enjoy (choose for pleasure & for nourishment)
3) E - Enjoy each bite (show up, slow down & savor)
4) L - Leave the rest behind when your hunger is satisfied
REPEAT
CHECK IN #5: I AM WILLING TO TOLERATE RESISTANCE (AND NOT LET IT STOP ME)
Expect to feel resistance as you make these changes. That’s normal. It means you’re changing things!
When you start to rewire your brain, the old deeply ingrained patterns will scream to be back in control.
No need to be concerned. Just acknowledge the old thoughts and move on.
Eventually your new patterns will be your New Normal.
CHECK-IN #6: I AM WILLING TO EMBRACE MY STUMBLES
In fact, welcome them. They’re your best school!
When you eat in a way you’re not happy with, instead of the old self-criticism, just say “Wow, look at that. I just overate. Isn’t that interesting. I wonder what I can learn from this?”
As you become a Curious Observer (rather than a Critical Judge) of your own behavior, you will come to understand and appreciate yourself more fully.
CHECK-IN #7: I AM WILLING TO STAY SUPPORTED
The research is loud and clear. We humans don’t make lifestyle changes alone.
We tend to think we can. I certainly did and it took me many long years to finally stumble my way to freedom.
With support, it is a much shorter and less painful route.
So,
Find a walking/talking buddy to walk and talk with every day.
Create a small support group with people who have your similar goals.
Better yet.
Come join our amazing Community. You’ll love us and we already love you!
So, how did these hit you?
Which ones felt easy?
Which ones didn’t?
This Food Freedom Check List gives you a good idea of the life you’re adopting when you decide to heal your relationship with food.
It’s a journey you’ll thank yourself for taking for the rest of your beautiful life!
*By comfortable weight, I mean a weight that is comfortable for you and your body. In our culture we often want to be thinner than our body wants or needs to be.
The reality is that only 1 in 40,000 women is naturally “model thin.” To try to maintain that uber-thinness against your body’s will, will never be maintainable or peaceful.