I’m realizing just how much of a mental game losing weight is. Although I don’t struggle with needing to lose a lot of weight personally, I still struggle with the “feel good” draw of eating certain foods.

Being in my profession, I know how important blood sugar stabilization is for successful weight loss or maintenance. I know which foods can help me feel and look better, and which foods can provoke that terrible blood sugar spike then the inevitable crash that follows, thus leading to more bad eating decisions. Still, even I struggle with grabbing what’s easy and fast and tastes good (usually processed junk foods), and wanting to bake something sweet, yummy and soothing with my kids because that’s what made me feel good as a child. Or, I’ve had a rough day…where’s my wine? 

Making good eating choices takes WORK. No way around it. Yes, you can certainly get to the point where eating right is your way of life and doesn’t take much effort or decision-making on your part anymore, but few of us are there 100 percent of the time. Shopping, preparing, bagging and cooking healthy foods takes time and thought. So many of us are short on time or tired, and that’s our excuse. I hear ya! Having two energetic boys under the age of four myself, I’ve been there! Once again, it’s a mental game.

I challenge everyone to ask yourselves more of these questions:

• Which decision is going to make me feel better in the end?
• Which food is going to provide the best nutrition my body needs?
• How am I going to feel after I eat this food? Healthy and energized?
• A sense of accomplishment by making the right choice?
• Disappointed in myself?
• Bloated, heavy and defeated because I succumbed to temptation again?
• What’s really worth it?

I find that if I keep busy, I am not nearly as tempted to eat junk. Idle hands are my enemy. Keeping myself busy is a win-win, really. I am more active, which is good, and I make better choices to fuel my body when I am hungry. It’s a very hard thing for most people to think of food as fuel for the body. I think part of the battle is recognizing this, identifying your personal “demons," triggers, etc...and deciding to take control when presented with those triggers. Food does not control you. Only you are in control of what you put into your body--not what your spouse or children or friends are eating or drinking.

If you’re constantly feeling defeated by how you’re eating, find yourself saying “I was bad yesterday, today, last week," you need to make a change. It is much more daunting and frustrating to think about changing than actually doing it. Start small, maybe changing only your drinking or snacking habits first. Baby steps work! Often I find clients only need a small dose of success to motivate them to make bigger, more aggressive changes. Unfortunately, our negative and self-doubting thoughts can keep us from even taking that first oh-so-important step. Losing a couple of pounds, feeling more energetic, or dropping one pant size can go a long way toward achieving your end result.

Stay positive and keep moving, my friends!