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p style=”padding-left: 40px;”>Staying in great shape means that you have to deprive yourself of all the foodie joys! Right? Well… that’s what I used to believe for years until I’ve learned a few mind tricks that have helped me get in- and stay in shape without depriving myself AT ALL!
And please don’t think that it’s just “my genes”! (Because I was chubby throughout my teenagers years and thought that being skinny was NOT in my genes!)
Also don’t think that I’m fooling with you when I say that I love my food-life these days as I’ve been able to stick around my 100 lb weight for more than a few years now!
Do you want to how I’m doing it! 🙂
OK! Here you go! :)
#1. I made “friends” with “good foods”!
Well, to be precise, I’ve found my friends amongst the good foods! For instance, do you like carrots? Well, I don’t like them very much… But I LOVE squash! Baked with a bit of salt? Oh, and some parmesan cheese? Heaven! Sautéed broccoli? Oh, yes, please!
I also love almost all fruit! Watermelon makes the BEST ever snack!
And my meringue-based desserts that you can eat for breakfast, or snack, or… well, dessert – are the best guiltless treats I can ALWAYS have! Without having to worry about my waistline at all!
Which brings me to…
#2. I reset my habits.
That one is a bit tricky. For instance, if you’re used to “Ben & Jerry’s”, or if you can only eat a cake if it’s all-the-way buttery, sugary and topped with a lot of high-fat frosting…
Well, the “Arctic Zero” (my favourite store-bough frozen treat) or my lower-sugar cake with a little bit (vs a lot) of chocolate frosting won’t taste “as good” at first!
But your taste-buds can be taught!
And here’s the most important part: 
It’s not the dessert (in terms of it’s nutritional value) that you crave (and NEED to have! Because you NEED dessert in your life. Yes – you NEED it!)
It’s the SOUL-SOOTHING benefits that it provides! …The mood-uplifting, stress-defeating, comforting process of treating yourself to something indulgent, sweet and yummy that you have to have in your everyday life!
When I’ve realised that fact – it literally changed everything! It made me sigh with great relief that I did not have to leave the foodie-pleasures out of my life! I could STILL be comforted, and soothed and brought to joy by an edible treat. But it’s the kind of the treat that had to be altered a bit!
And trust me – that’s just a technical issue! After a few days of enjoying the “good stuff” – you’ll start getting used to it! After a month – you won’t WANT the bad stuff at all! Because it won’t make you feel good. And you won’t want that! :)
#3. Get Distracted!
One more mind-trick that helped me figure it out – and this one’s important!
Since no matter how low-calorie, good-for-you the healthy brownie or even the low-calorie mousse gets… If intaking it is the only source of joy and comfort in your life – you’ll never feel good! (And consequentially look good as well!)
You must find the other ways to make your soul sing!
…Little ways! Because not all of us can crop out the time to go to Paris to unwind and recharge, right?!
Shopping for a pretty Spring outfit? Check! Oh, and add some extra-calorie-burning benefits if you’re shopping in the mall (vs. doing so on-line!)
Reading a blog or a magazine? Or heck, browsing your favourite recipes and thinking of the next treat you’ll make? Hmm… I definitely love doing that!
…Or maybe seeing a friend (and bringing some sweet treats to share with them to make their day even brighter)!
…Or going for a walk in your neighbourhood to discover your new favourite coffee shop! Doesn’t that sound mood-uplifting to you?
By the way, that’s how I discovered my new favourite spot: the famous Alfred Coffee here in LA! They make the best coffee! And their slogan “But first… coffee!” – I’ve got two tee-shirts saying that! I couldn’t believe that I found a place that speaks out my heart! 🙂 So much fun!
Only… once you found that coffee shop to try out… just don’t buy a thousand-calories-a-drink frappe! Remember, that it’s not the drink – it’s the mood-elevating benefits that you’re after! And get yourself one of your favourite healthy coffee options instead! And enjoy every moment of your fun outing!
So what did you think?
Does staying in shape sound more manageable to you now? Does it sound like an actually FUN soul-searching adventure that you can go on and enjoy! I certainly hope so!
Please, comment!