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It's that time of year my friends when our hibernation, bettered with sugary treats and cozy oversized lounge wear, is cruelly disrupted by diet supplement commercials, gym membership advertisements, and healthy treat tips. Super lean soccer moms perched happily on stationary bikes assault my dulled senses. Why can't the holidays be a holiday from worrying about our waistlines?
As Christmas winds down and we are on the precipice of a New Year, we are reminded of our holiday mistakes...an extra slice of cheesecake, a mug of eggnog, a heaping helping of mashed potatoes. Losing weight and getting into shape is the most popular of the New Year's resolutions and often the most difficult to maintain. We foolishly begin with illusions of grandeur, no carbs, no fat, daily exercise for an hour. These unrealistic goals are too much too soon and our resolutions remain unresolved. We are angry that we failed ourselves and "can't get it together". Then the punishment phase begins, we completely go overboard with the unhealthy habits sabotaging all and any remnants of our resolution or we deny ourselves any pleasure because of our failings. We even put our life on hold because we were not able to fulfill those unrealistic expectations, no socializing; no eating, drinking, and being merry; no new clothes, shoes or accessories. Life shouldn't wait because you want to lose weight!
You may never accomplish your goals if they are unrealistic and inappropriate for YOU. Our weight loss goals are often influenced by unrealistic societal messages. A size 0 may be appropriate for a fashion model but not for the rest of the world. You may come to believe watching starlets that to have six pack abs, a week post pregnancy, is the norm...it is not! You may even believe that attractiveness lies in a prepubescent 90lbs six foot frame...it does not! Your weight loss goals must be appropriate for you in the real world, not the world of fame and excess.
In addition to having unrealistic goals born from societal influences, you may also have inappropriate individual goals. The goals you make for your body must work for you not for someone else. First, you must tailor your exercise and eating behaviors to match your ability. If you can't perform an exercise activity or cook a certain meal, you may give up your goals entirely. Your tasks should lie somewhere between easily accomplished and moderately challenging. Second, your goals should fit into your lifestyle or require moderate tweaks. If you created a fitness plan that requires a 7am wakeup call and you are a night owl, what is the point?
To help you find weight loss goals that work for you, I have enlisted the help of Heather K. Jones (http://heatherkjones.com/), registered dietician and author of What's Your Diet Type?(http://mydiettype.com/) Heather believes that you should "give yourself a makeover before you lose the weight so you can start changing today. Sitting around waiting for your life to change, for your passion to be ignited, for your soul-mate to be discovered, and for your weight to magically disappear, is just not going to make it happen. So instead of waiting for your life to change you, take the initiative and begin to change your life! Focus on changing your lifestyle for good (not a "diet") and finding the right approach for YOU.... You should use your most important resource, one more powerful than a personal trainer, nutritionist or life coach - YOU!"
Heather states that "our personality affects all facets of our lives - from the subjects that we like in school, to how we act in social settings, to the professions and careers we find fulfilling. It also determines why some diet and health approaches work for us, while others fail. While one person enjoys counting calories or points, another cringes at the idea. Whereas some like the flexibility of food choices, others overeat when they're faced with too many decisions. Losing weight and keeping it off involves a lot of factors: physical, emotional and psychological and you need to have an understanding of yourself in order to reach success. In short, knowing who you are is the most important information you can have when it comes to losing weight and eating healthy."
In her book, What's my Diet Type?, Heather provides a short, simple quiz based on the nationally renowned personality test, the Myers Brigg, so you can find your Diet Type among 4 unique diet personalities: the Diet Planner, the Diet Player, the Diet Feeler, and the Diet Thinker. She believes that "understanding your Diet Type provides you with the "why" behind what you do (and don't do) and helps you identify not only what motivates you, but also what stresses you out. Knowing yourself arms you with the necessary answers and insights you need for ultimate success, after this holiday season, and forever."
No Psychology of Dress entry would be complete without the dress component. You can use your wardrobe to hinder or facilitate your nutritional and fitness goals. Holding onto your "skinny" clothes is not going to help you move forward. If you are stuck in the past you can't move toward the future. Halle Berry reportedly keeps her high school jeans in her closet as a way to measure and maintain her weight, but for most of us having the body of a high school student in adulthood is not ideal. In an effort to "punish" yourself, you may be tempted to hold onto a few key pieces and not buy any more until you lose weight. These over worn pieces are just that over worn and worn out!
Waiting to buy new clothes for the body you want and not the body you have is a slow form of torture. If your budget allows buy flattering transitional clothes while you are waiting for the loss. Using wrap silhouettes or dresses are flattering ways to enhance the shape you have now and may also last longer through the weight loss process. Forget the dark colors or oversized frocks to camouflage. Looking like a trash bag with a head attached is not an attractive look. The holidays are a perfect time for what I call "peacock dressing". Show yourself off with rich colors, sequins, rhinestones, glitter, and metallics. You may just find that you just love the sparkling person you see in the mirror, which will further motivate you to fill your body with good things and exercise.
When you being to approach your goal throw out your old clothes. Forget buying elasticized clothing, too much give won't tell you anything about the changes in your body. Buy or keep clothes that won't stretch out. If they become tighter than they should, it is time to get back to your routine.
As with any goal, change, or resolution, failure is part of the process. Assume that you may not accomplish your goal right away and know that that is normal. Whether using your personality type to aid in change or your wardrobe to facilitate the process, make sure that this year's resolution is right for you!
When considering a resolution in 2010, there are two main queries you should consider
1. Does it enrich your life
2. Is success possible?
When examining if your resolution is enriching ask yourself the following:
Is your life improved with the goal? (mentally, physically, emotionally)
Will this change lead to other positive changes?
Is this a goal that you have always dreamed of achieving?
When considering whether success is possible consider the following:
Do you have the personal ability to achieve it? (mental, physical, emotional)
Do you have the resources to achieve it? (time, money, support)
Can this resolution be broken into smaller obtainable goals?
Is success identifiable?
What are your strengths to support the goal?
What are your weaknesses to impede your goal?
Is this an internally motivated goal or an externally motivated goal (you, other, society)?
Can your goal be maintained?
Dr. B wants to know what are your resolutions? How are you going to achieve them? What is your advice to others doing the same?
Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a Happy Healthy New Year to you!
