3 Tips to find joy in your nutritional journey, even when it’s hard
Deciding to start a weight loss or nutritional journey can be hard, but sticking with it is usually harder. There are roadblocks in every journey but when it comes to nutrition those roadblocks can be especially challenging to navigate through. Typical diets don’t help with those roadblocks because they focus so much on what you can and cannot do. Flexible dieting is different.
Flexible dieting doesn’t tell you what to do, instead,, it helps you set guidelines to live your life within. Instead of having to change everything in your life, you only have to make adjustments that will lead you towards the path you want to be on. While flexible dieting is easier than the restrictive diets you’re used to, it’s not going to be sunshine and roses all the time.
If you’re feeling stuck or annoyed with the new goals you’ve set for yourself, these three tips can help you push through the hard times. When things get difficult, remember that every step forward you take will move you closer to your goals.
“Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become.” - James Clear
Change your perspective
How many times do you think, “This is too hard. I don’t want to do this anymore,” or “I’m not capable of doing this.” What about “I don’t even think this is working. It’s not worth it.” I’ve had these thoughts hundreds of thousands of times! But here’s the secret: these thoughts aren’t true. We say them to ourselves when things get hard and we want to give up. But, a simple change in thoughts can help us push through to find joy in our journies again.
What if you replaced your “I have to” thoughts with “I get to” thoughts? What would that change for you?
What if you changed “I need protein, I have to eat this chicken breast.” to “I need to protein, I get to eat this chicken breast!” Would it be easier to come up with things to be grateful for when it comes to that chicken breast? I know it would be!
I spent a month changing all of my “I have to” thoughts into “I get to” thoughts and it seriously changed everything for me. I was able to find more positivity not only in my nutrition but in my whole life!
A little perspective shift can change everything! If you feel stuck in a loop of frustration, use this trick to switch things up!
Find your go-to foods/meals that make you happy
The beautiful thing about flexible dieting is that it gives you so much variety in the foods you eat. No two people have to follow the same meal plan, but that flexibility can also overwhelm people when they’re getting started on their journeys.
A lot of my clients struggle to think of foods that fit into their new boundaries, which can make this whole journey feel more difficult. However, knowing what you like and what you don’t like, and having a quick reference list can make things much easier!
Start by writing down your favorite whole foods. Most of us don’t think of food in terms of whole foods. Here are a few things I want you to write down.
Favorite fruits
Favorite veggies
Favorite proteins
Once you have that list of foods, create a list of the pre-packaged foods you want to include in your diet. Finally, make a list of your favorite recipes.
When you’re meal planning, have these lists out so that you can easily reference them! Having a go-to list will take a lot of the frustration out of coming up with something to eat!
Celebrate every single win
What we celebrate, we replicate. I want to shout this from the rooftops! If you don’t acknowledge and celebrate the little wins along your journey, it makes it so much hard to accomplish that big goal.
Did you lose one pound? Do a happy dance!
Did you hit your macro goals? Text your mom and tell her how proud she should be!
Did you look in the mirror and say, “Hey, I like her.” Throw yourself a party, mama!
Those seemingly small things add up over time! Celebrating those small wins help us to create a positive attitude around our nutritional journey.
Every week when I check in with my clients, I ask them what wins they had for the week. Most of the time, it’s not a physical win we celebrate; it’s a mental one. Those little shifts we see in ourselves can be monumental, so don’t ignore them!
If you’re struggling with a restrictive diet or a restrictive mindset, then let’s chat! I can help you enjoy your nutrition, lose weight, and we can do it in a way that empowers you! Schedule a free discovery call to learn more!
