All posts by Lindsay

LESSON ONE: Stop Trying So Hard

“You will never be happy if you continue to search for what happiness consists of.  You will never live if you are looking for the meaning of life.”  – Albert Camus

Albert Camus knows what’s up. And if he knew what emotional eating was, I’m sure he would tell you that spending ALL OF YOUR TIME obsessing about how to stop doing it is the fastest way to never get there.

Stop trying so hard. Okay, I’m going to say it again. STOP TRYING SO HARD.

My brilliant friend Alison Liepzig said it perfectly: “If you feel constricted, if you feel like you are holding on so tightly to rules that aren’t serving you, it’s time to loosen the reins.”

“Trying” or “Should-ing” around food can be dizzying and propel us into obsession pretty quickly. It is actually relaxing around your “food issue” that will let you break free of it – not clenching tighter, not “figuring it out,” and certainly not judging your performance.

Today I DARE YOU to drop the effort. Break a rule. Skip the gym. Have a second piece.

Just let it go. Whatever that means for you today.

 

A Word About “Fat Photos”

These two pictures were taken minutes apart from one another, and there’s the appearance of a solid 20 lbs differential between them.  Feel free to compare for yourself, and keep in mind that I went for the Little Mermaid this Halloween weekend (in case any of you are wondering why I’m wearing a metallic turquoise dress and/or are carrying a giant conch shell).

Image

Next time someone takes a “fat picture” of you, just remember, you could look like an Olsen twin in the next one.  It ain’t no thang.

On a second note, I felt super sexy in my dress that entire night – so sexy, in fact, that I had a gentleman visitor for the first time in three months.  Go, Isabel, it’s your birthday, Go Isabel.

God help me if I let a fat photo destroy my good time. (Tweet it) 

You Know You’re Restricting If…

  1. You’re constantly thinking about when and what you’re going to eat next.
  2. Having set mealtimes (or veering from set mealtimes) stresses you out.
  3. You don’t love having food prepared for you (i.e. you feel most comfortable when you’re in control of what’s going onto your plate).
  4. Certain foods are rewards, when you’ve been “good” or lost weight.
  5. Your orders at restaurants involve two or more substitutions/alterations.
  6. You have dreams (or nightmares) about food or “slipping” when you’re fast asleep.
  7. You regularly decline dinner invitations, because you’re not sure what you’ll be able to eat.
  8. Fruit is a “free” food.
  9. You use a scale or measuring cup when serving yourself.
  10. Thanksgiving scares the shit out of you.