Could Moderation Be The Key to Dealing with Everything?
But as we all know that’s easier said than done!
Moderation means the quality of being moderate. So keeping within proper or reasonable limits, not extreme, excessive, or intense! Of medium quantity or amount, which feels more relevant when referring to diet and food intake.
I think it's interesting to think about friends who struggle with moderation. We all know someone who we think might play way too much sport, especially someone that is out playing golf every day. They may have an amazing handicap, but they never see their partner or their children. They lack any moderation in their approach to golf. I would also describe them as lacking any balance in this aspect of their lives.
Moderation around food can be for some a real challenge
To moderate one’s behavior is to be able to practice restraint. If we could do this ourselves, we wouldn’t need to practice it or seek help. I know from my own relationship with food that ‘going it alone’ can be a very long and lonely journey. There can even be some shame around seeking help and support to gain moderation around your eating habits.
Here are a couple of suggestions I make when I start working with a new client. These may sound simple when you put them down in writing but for many people taking that first step can be the biggest challenge of all.
1. Portion Control
What exactly do I mean by portion control? I think it's important to work with a weight coach to identify exactly what is a ‘normal’ portion size. Many of us on a weight loss journey, start with a misconception about what is an ‘average’ portion size.
Start by taking note of exactly what you are putting on your plate, maybe even take a photo so you can share this with your weight coach.
Once you begin to become aware of the portions you are serving up for yourself you can start to review with your weight coach how to reduce your portion sizes.
2. Only eat when you are hungry
Many of my clients fall into the habit of eating at set mealtimes. This often means they are eating when in fact they are not hungry, but they are doing it because of how they have structured their lives or how they justify what and when they eat.
So if everyday it comes to 6.30 pm you and your family eat, then that is exactly what you do. Even though you may not ‘feel’ hungry at all. But it’s just what you do. I often meet a new client who will say to me “I don’t know what it feels like to be hungry''.
If you identify with this, I would like to suggest you listen to my You Tube video Can you tell the difference between Hunger, Cravings and Desires? This will help guide you through my definition of feeling hungry. Sometimes a new client might be a grazer, so eating too often and never reaching the sensation of feeling hungry. Again this is not unusual if you need to lose weight.
3. Preserve your energy!
How does preserving your energy have any impact on losing weight and sustaining a weight loss. One of the things new clients experience is that feeling that they have to do everything all at once.
So when they begin their weight loss journey (this is before they engage me) they will have that euphoric start to their diet and give up everything all at once, this will often include:
1. Knock smoking on the head
2. Give up drinking alcohol
3. Start on a severe weight loss regime
4. Join a gym!
This is the one that requires an investment of time and energy. Most clients tend to start really well, but very soon they don’t seem to have the energy to sustain this immense impact on their body.
They feel overwhelmed and give up on everything, but they now have a 12 month gym membership that isn’t going to get used! I can't tell you how many times I talk to women about this journey.
I work closely with my clients to help support them by helping them shed their excess pounds, increasing their activity levels, reducing alcohol and giving up smoking. This definitely needs to be done in moderation - to be able to sustain the changes and allow your body to adapt over a period of time.
Here are a few things I have used where practicing a moderate and balanced approach. that has helped me to achieve a measure of calmness around my day. If you have read my early blog ‘Restart Your Morning Routine’.
You will know I have an approach to the beginning of my day that enables me to have a balanced day. I also meditate throughout the day and this doesn’t mean getting on the floor and closing my eyes!! I could be in the car waiting for a meeting with a client and I have 5 minutes to spare. I will usually have a few guided 5-min meditation apps on my phone. I'll tune in to one that will rejuvenate me and bring me back into my body and reconnect me to my day.
If you are looking for help working on improving your approach to your eating and finding a balanced view to your weight loss, I would love to hear from you.
Check out my WEIGHT LOSS BREAKTHROUGH 90 DAY INTENSIVE PROGRAM which has helped hundreds of women just like you lose weight and create a way of eating that’s sustainable for your whole life!
