As most of our patients have experienced, following our diet promotes healthy weight loss and a feeling of well-being. Patients tell us they feel better, look better and are happy with their success. We have seen them through the health risks associated with excess weight, the medical recommendations, the specific protocols, and have encouraged them to succeed from the inside out. They have followed our expert advice and planned life around their program.
Until something happens: a stressful event, a week with no weight loss despite the perfect effort, a vacation, holiday or even an illness. Sometimes the patient gets right back on track but for many, events like this can derail their weight loss efforts and make it difficult to brush it aside and get back on track. Many continue to struggle for a week, even months, and cannot seem to get refocused. They tell themselves, “I have too much stress in my life right now to work on my diet.” “This diet is just too difficult for me.” “If I can’t do it perfectly, I won’t do it at all.”
This is an all or nothing attitude and the worst thing you can do.
Perfectionism is not an option, but a formula for inevitable failure. When you have to do everything perfectly, you leave yourself very little room for learning and growth. There will always be something in life that will challenge your weight loss goals and health efforts. There is no time or place for an all-or-nothing attitude with your health.
Failing to plan is planning to fail.
Unrealistic goals are plans that will fail just as striving for perfectionism is immobilizing. Mistakes and setbacks are part of the weight loss process and are actually beneficial for learning and growth. Just as a child falls repeatedly when first learning to walk, the lessons learned from falling are part of the success.
Plan for inevitable setbacks.
Building a new foundation for success in health requires perseverance, walking through the ups and downs and out of the setbacks. It is not instantaneous – it will take time to retrain those old habits. Make a plan from the lessons learned from the previous setbacks to help you get through the next inevitable derailment. Over time, this will help you overcome the old patterns of perfectionism and keep you moving forward without giving up your long-term goals.
Share Your Success!
We want to hear from you! Tell us your story about how you have developed plans for keeping on track and long-term success. What do you do when you have a setback? How do you get back on track right away? Please share your methods for success with us so we can share them with others who are struggling. Submit your information to [email protected] and win a $20 product credit to spend in the store if your story is picked. We will post them on our website for others to read.
