SEVEN WAYS TO POSITIVELY BELIEVE YOURSELF OFF THE DIET ROLLER COASTER

I had been unsuccessfully trying to loose from 15 to 20 pounds since my daughter's birth in 1973. Every so often I would get down to my desired weight. But before I could get to the clothing store to buy that pair of jeans I wanted, in the smaller size, those 15 extra pounds would creep back on.

I couldn't keep those pounds off, because, the day before my next diet was scheduled to begin my mind would be consumed with the thoughts of my favorite foods (we draw to us what we put our emotional energy into). That day, if someone were to bring donuts to the office, I knew that I would have more than one, maybe even more than two. I didn't know when I would have the opportunity to savor one of my favorite foods, maple bars, again.

As I read my menu for the next two weeks, dry wheat toast, cottage cheese and grapefruit; my diet partner would be assuring me that this diet was the best one so far. That was fifteen years ago.

SAY YES TO THE WHOLENESS OF MIND AND BODY

In the West we have been taught that our minds and our bodies are separate. We have believed this teaching. Because of this belief, many Americans struggle unsuccessfully with what they consider to be a weight problem. Let's challenge this old belief of mind and body separation, and change it to a more favorable belief that is life changing. In the following paragraphs, I'll tell you how it changed my life more than fifteen years ago after I read the book, Psycho-cybernetics.

Maxwell Maltz, M.D., F.I.C.S author of, Psycho-cybernetics, suggests that our sub-conscious is a servo mechanism, operating off of data input by our thoughts with no judgement of that data. The data input can be positive or negative both are acted on equally. Dr. Wayne W. Dyer writes in his book Real Magic, that our thoughts create our experiences. In Dr. Deepak Chopra's book, Ageless Body Timeless Mind, Dr. Chopra reveals that the biochemistry of our body is a product of awareness, and that mind and body are one.

If we can accept one or more of the teachings suggested in the books referenced above, we can change the way we view weight control and dieting. With this information, I found a way off of the diet roller coaster, and you can too.

Our thoughts are very powerful. We can look back over our life and see just what we have created. If Dr. Maltz is correct, each time we stand in front of our mirror and say to our reflection, "I am fat," our body responds. It might accommodate our request by sending an "I'm hungry," signal or it might simply slow down our metabolism to insure that what we are saying, and what we are seeing don't contradict one another.

Back in 1984, what do you think I did after I completed my two-week bland-food diet? I gorged myself again. I was starving for my favorite foods, the ones I had deprived myself of. My feelings of desire were so powerful that as I think about it today, I can feel my desperation.

I'm glad now that I don't practice that unhealthy behavior. The following seven suggestions will give you the tools needed to change the way you view dieting and weight control.

1. SAY YES TO ACCEPTANCE OF SELF

This step is number-one for a reason, it's the most important. We all know that it isn't our physical appearance that really matters. It's the caring loving person inside (by the way, it's important that you believe this). Some of us may have had unpleasant experiences with others based on our physical appearance. We don't have control over what others think, but we do have control over our perception of ourselves. If we can accept ourselves, we will send a powerful message to those around us. We send the message of "I respect, love and accept myself." That positive energy is so powerful that it will change the behavior of those around us. If we truly feel good about ourselves, it is that belief that others will see and feel. Not only do we change the energy around us into positive energy, when we accept ourselves with confidence; we no longer care what others think.

2. SAY YES TO POSITIVE AFFIRMATIONS

Dr. Wayne W. Dyer explains in his book, Real Magic that saying positive things about ourselves whether we belief them or not will change our life. Once we start our positive affirmations, some destructive beliefs and thinking may start to surface, that's good. It's these old embedded beliefs that might be preventing us from a life of improved health, both physical and mental. We need to discover them then change them to positive beliefs.

After following Dr. Dyer's suggestions on affirmations for about a month. I realized that I had some very embedded disabling beliefs about myself that I needed to bring to the surface and change. I reviewed my life and discovered that I believed I was unworthy, unlovable and not deserving. When we uncover embedded disabling beliefs, there is no judgement, no one to blame; everything in our lives has made us the wonderful individual we are today.

Once I discovered the disabling beliefs mentioned earlier, I needed to change them to positive beliefs. My affirmations started to include statements that I was worthy, loved and deserving.

Dr. Dyer suggests that we do not base our affirmations on any part of the negative belief, but only on the positive. Instead of saying, "I am not fat," we should say, "I weight 130 pounds." We should define our goal in measurable terms, 130 pounds is measurable.

3. SAY NO TO DIETING

Once we begin to affirm our desires positively, starting a diet would be sending the signal that we do not believe the, "I weight 130 pounds," affirmation we have been faithfully repeating. Dieting now would only challenge the new belief that our body is working toward our goal, making it a reality. In other words, we should start, TRUSTING OUR BODY.

4. SAY YES TO STOPPING WHEN FULL

This one was hard for me, especially if the food tasted good. In addition, my reluctance may have come from guilt over starving children, environmental concerns or the nutritional beliefs of others. It amazes me how we allow someone outside our bodies to decide what nutrients are needed inside our bodies. I believe our bodies know what they need to keep us healthy, especially when we believe they do.

5. SAY YES TO EATING ONLY WHEN HUNGRY

So what if it's mealtime, if we are not hungry, we shouldn't eat. Eating when we are not hungry will send mixed signals to our bodies. Our body is faithfully suppressing our appetite for the good of the whole, and that 130-pound weight we've been affirming.

6. SAY NO TO THE STATEMENT, "I SHOULDN'T EAT THIS," AND OTHERS LIKE IT

I have heard the statement, "I shouldn't eat this," while standing in line at the cafeteria, too many times. If we really shouldn't because of doctor's recommendations, I definitely say don't. But if we are not under doctor's orders, stop judging food as good or bad based on information from an outside source (outside our bodies). When we say we shouldn't eat something, we are telling our bodies that we don't believe it is good for us. Our body is very loyal, it will digest that food and add the belief that it is harmful. If we believe the fat is going straight to our hips, it is the duty of our body's servo mechanism to make it so. When we are truly listening and trusting what our body is trying to tell us, we will eat what we need to maintain a healthy body, when we need it.

I eat what and when I desire; the difference from when I was dieting is that I know now that I have no limitations on my food intake. I might choose to eat desert today but I know that I probably will have no desire to eat it tomorrow. I trust my body to tell if I need something. I will eat chocolate if I feel I need it. Remember my favorite food the maple bar? I eat them infrequently now, because I know I can.

By not judging food, we will not use it as a reward or a punishment. There is never any reason to punish ourselves, and there are many ways to reward and appreciate us. We can simply tell our body, "thank you for caring for me and keeping me healthy." Loving ourselves is our best reward; we should do it on a regular basis.

7. ASK, "WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO LEARN FROM THIS EXPERIENCE?"

If we feel that we are experiencing pain because of excessive weight, we can also ask our Higher Power or that small quiet voice within ourselves, what our body is trying to teach us from the experience.
Louise L. Hay teaches in her book, You Can Heal Your Life, that dis-ease comes when our Being is trying to tell us something. She teaches that excess weight can come from a need for protection, and that weight may not be the real issue.

SAY YES, "I HAVE THE POWER."

When the suggestions listed above become real to you, the same principles can be used in other areas of your life. The authors and books I have mentioned in this booklet teach many positive ways to enrich your life.

You are the writer, director and producer of your own story. Add self-love and acceptance, change a few perceptions and your story can become the story of a princess or prince who lives happily ever after.
If these suggestions don't work for you, ask yourself again if there are any hidden embedded disabling beliefs contradicting your new positive thoughts.

For more information on the subject of self-love, acceptance and inner healing read Brenda Ehrler's book, Learning to Be You; It's an Inside Job www.justebepublihsing.com