Mindset Makeover

I gave myself a mindset makeover and want to share how I did it, with the hope it can help you. For years I have on and off struggled with rules around food and exercise. Often to the point of obsession. This stuff often comes up for me around the holidays as we are attending lots of events with rich exciting food and drinks.  I thought it was important to share these thoughts, as perhaps you struggle with this stuff too. 

Have you ever had anxiety about going to a party because there will be cake? How will you avoid eating cake? CAKE ANXIETY – insanity.

So let’s dive in. 

Here are some examples of different rules I have tried to stick to in the past – 

“Only work out fasted in the morning to burn fat”
“Wait for one hour after working out to eat, to burn more fat”
“No carbs at night”
“Banana is too sugary”
“You have to workout 6 days a week or you won’t get results”
“Check the macros on the label of everything you eat”
“Weigh in every day to track your weight loss”
“Make sure you clean intermittent fast for 14 hours plus after dinner, so no breakfast”

Some of these rules came from working with personal trainers, books I read or different diet approaches I tried over the years. I would either be obsessively sticking to these rules to the point of anxiety or going off the deep end in a binge because the extremity got to be too much. 

When I couldn’t stick to the rules I would feel bad about myself. Self-imposed guilt. Not a good place to be in right? 

Have you ever had anxiety about going to a party because there will be cake? How will you avoid eating cake? CAKE ANXIETY – insanity.

I have also been guilty of then trying to push these rules on other people in my life which, surprise, did not go down well. 

In the pursuit of health, I actually made myself unhealthy, anxious and obsessed. The opposite of what I was aiming for. When I couldn’t stick to the rules I would feel bad about myself. Self-imposed guilt. Not a good place to be in right? 

So how did I make the shift from obsessing about weight loss to putting a focus on thriving?

1. Recognising that putting rules around food and exercise does not help me in any way.
2. I don’t weigh myself, EVER, because health is more than a number on the scale.
3. Notice when I am entering my old pattern of rules around eating and asking myself – Is this me attempting to give my life structure through food rules because other parts of my life are lacking? 

Rather than having rules to stick to, I have my important habits/rituals that help keep me grounded.

I have given myself a mindset makeover – the focus for my health is no longer weight loss. The aim of my healthy habits is to feel better, mentally and physically, get stronger and thrive so I can show up in my life giving 100% for myself and others.

Rather than having rules to stick to, I have my important habits/rituals that help keep me grounded.

These include 

• working out daily for my mental health and to get stronger, often eating breakfast before (anxiety free)  

• Eating a well-balanced but not measured diet with lots of plants and variety, with no set rules
• Practising meditation and mindfulness. this helps me create awareness around my patterns, to notice when I am entering a “rule period”
• Not drinking alcohol – my brain and body are healthier, less anxiety, both big pluses  
• Sleeping 8 hours when possible

The holidays are for fun, not for self-imposed guilt and anxiety

I would urge you, if you have struggled like me, with anxiety around holidays because you may not be able to stick to your diet plan, to instead focus on having your own grounding habits to come back to. They don’t need to be the same as mine. Take a moment to write a short list of what helps you stay centred. 

There is nothing enjoyable about feeling guilty about enjoying a candy cane once a year. The holidays are for fun, not for self-imposed guilt and anxiety. A mindset shift from obsessing about weight loss/gain, to being happy and healthy is just what Santa’s Helpers ordered.