Develop and live your ideal self image

If you see yourself as an overweight or obese person, then that is what you will be.

If you believe that there is nothing you can do to change your shape or lose weight- because of your genes / age / job / lack of willpower / lack of time, then nothing will ever change.

Repeat after me: There is NOTHING wrong with you.  You CAN achieve the body shape and health you dream of....

We learn to associate ourselves more with the person who isn’t fit or who eats too much or who makes unhealthy food choices. The effect of this is that we become our own self fulfilling prophecies.  You start to believe that there is something wrong with you - YOU can never be one of those effortlessly slender people, who seems to eat whatever they want....

Yes, you can.

The starting point to achieving and maintaining your ultimate body FOR LIFE (with minimal possible effort) is to determine and develop your ultimate self image. What does the ultimate you look like and act like?

Is it:

• a healthy, outdoorsy, sunny, beachy person who bounces around and eats fresh fruit and nicoise salad? 
• an introverted bookish person who listens to classical music and eats homemade stews and porridge? 
• a gym junkie in the latest expensive nikes and lycra who has protein shakes and tuna salads? 
• a combination of all 3? Or something different entirely?

For me, what I really connect with is living the most healthy, natural life I can so I know I am giving my body and mind everything they need to perform at their best and so I feel my best. This means that I love being in the fresh air and sunshine and ocean. I love exercising with fresh blood and oxygen being pumped through my body and my lungs, muscles and joints working. It also means that I love eating fresh fruit and vegetables and grains and meats and fish and eggs and home cooked food made from scratch. 

 It is entirely a PERSONAL CHOICE. Figure out your own ideal self-image and then let it guide your food decisions.  This is one of the most important steps you will ever take on your journey to sustainable weight loss and optimum health.

Come back to this post whenever you need a reminder. :)

Day 1: Donuts for dinner

This is the first day of your lifelong journey towards optimum health, well being, peace and happiness.

And I want you to begin by eating donuts, as many as you want. Or chocolate. And fish and chips or pizza. And drink coke. Anything you really love. You can have your cake and eat it too!

Here are the rules:

1. Choose one meal and make it your junk meal. But don't graze on these foods during the day.

2. Wait until you are genuinely hungry before you begin. Don't try to eat a healthy meal first - make this the meal.

3. I want you to really, really enjoy and relish what you are eating. That means no driving, working, dishes, TV, video games, etc, while eating. Just sit back, relax and eat.

4. You can eat as much as you want. Don't try to stop yourself for any reason. Just eat your favourite foods until you are completely satisfied.

5. The most important rule of all is to feel no guilt. Just pure, unbridled pleasure and indulgence.

If you are going to do this then please do it right - I want you to religiously follow the rules above. Sounds easy? You bet it is - Do it!

Before you begin, there is just one last rule:

6. Throughout the process, the day before your meal, during your meal and after your meal, I want you to really, really feel how your body is feeling - your teeth, skin, hair, stomach, eyes, legs, whatever. How are your energy levels? Do you have a clear head? How is your breathing, your digestion and your mood? This is not about judging yourself or feeling guilty- I want you to analyse yourself like a good scientist - objectively and curiously, with no agenda or baggage.

And, be absolutely honest.

Although you may not realise it, you have just taken your first step towards becoming an intuitive eater.