Why Do We Sabotage Ourselves?
7:26 AM
You know that moment when you convince yourself that it is okay to have that cookie, because if you chew it while standing on one foot and jumping up and down the calories don't count? Or, when you figure that banana nut bread is mostly bananas and nuts and those things are healthy so it can't hurt to eat half the loaf in one sitting? Yeah, I know those moments too. Those utterly delicious, but ultimately regrettable moments of self sabotage. Why do we do that? Why do we come so far just to try and trip ourselves up?
It's no secret that I have fought with my weight my whole life. For some, being thin is simple. They eat what they want, they drink what they want and the weight just stays off, no matter whether they exercise or not. For the rest of us, who do not eat healthy all the time and who do not work out several times a day, we blow up like balloons and never stop inflating. I hate it, and so I work hard, but begin to tell myself it's not fair. It's not fair that that skinny woman doesn't have to do anything and I have to work so hard. If she gets to eat a brownie than I should too. That brownie leads to set backs though, and I soon find myself asking why the scale isn't moving. If I was honest, it isn't moving because I'm not giving 100%.
Weight loss is hard, a million times harder than weight gain. All it takes is joy in food and friends to put the weight on, but for those of us with chronic weight problems, the truth is far more sickening than that. We self medicate with food, we reward with food, it consumes us. Today, I vow to stop self sabotaging, to stop making excuses and to realize that yes, life is not fair, but the only one keeping me this way is myself. Who's with me?
19 comments
I am with you, and this is exactly what I needed to read right now. I have walked into the kitchen and debated a snack 3 times already and was about to give in...but I'm not going to! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteTrust me Sheri I did the same thing last night. I went into the kitchen to reach for the veggie chips, but then I thought,"Do I really need these." Sometimes we eat just because we can, not because we are actually hungry.
ReplyDeleteGreat post and oh so true. While I may look thin, in reality weight has been difficult since having children. Years ago I could eat anything I wanted, no worries. Not anymore. Now I have to work hard to keep it off and not be tempted to eat all the junk.
ReplyDeleteI think we have to be ready to make a lifestyle change. I remember reading something about how French woman still eat chocolate every day, but still stay thin. The reason is that they limit it to one small piece of chocolate, while the American woman will eat a whole bar. I understand that and I really think it is true. We, as American's, tend to eat a whole thing, or a large thing. We need to go back to smaller sizes and only once in a while, instead of living like that daily. And then you can have your small treat and still lose weight.
ReplyDeleteHAHA I ate a candy bar while doing calf raises up the stairs yesterday.
ReplyDeleteThank you for posting this! I agree with Maryann about portion size, we CAN still have all the foods we love, but not American portions.
ReplyDeleteKathleen, I think that you look amazing. I only wish the best on this journey!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing. On my diet now and I was glad to read this.
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I am working on better eating habits too!
ReplyDeleteI'm a firm believer that you can't cut out everything you love. However, you do need to have it moderation.
ReplyDeleteCount me in Knowing that you ladies alone are taking the challenge with me makes it that much more exciting that we are all getting skinny together. I hope we can get together one day and take a group photo. Walk away from teh goodies. I always tell my self they taste awful
ReplyDeleteI did this, too. And my bottom, so to speak, was in October. I saw a photo of me and started to ask, "who is that?" when I realized it was me. I literally started to cry. Don't get me wrong, I knew I had gained a lot of weight, but I did NOT see myself that way when I looked into the mirror. I've taken baby steps making lifestyle changes in my life. And I can gladly say, that I'm started to see positive changes. And my attitude towards food has changed. Kudos to you, and I know you can do it, Kathleen!
ReplyDeleteDid you seriously have to show me a brownie right now... drooling on the screen...lol.
ReplyDeleteWe need to enjoy sometimes.. I guess.
ReplyDeleteI hit my breaking point last year when I saw a photo of myself and didn't even recognize my own face. I knew it was time to change!
ReplyDeleteI need to be with you but i love sweets too dang much LOL. I don't want to give up my vices so I am going to start working out more.
ReplyDeleteI have a bad habits of letting sweets tempt me!
ReplyDeleteI'm guilty of this all the time. IT's a hard habit to break.
ReplyDeleteWeight loss is hard. I've invested in some Atkins bars for those times when I want something BAD! The kind I bought are delicious: Coconut Almond Delight Bar - yum!
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