Mindsets and Behaviors

Behaviors:
Eating off a smaller plate
Eating low fat/carb/etc
setting your fork down between bites
Only eating breakfast lunch and dinner
Always eating breakfast
Drinking protein shakes for all but dinner


Mindsets:
You care enough about yourself to make some changes
Enjoying and paying attention to what you are eating
Learning to trust your body
Understanding and accepting that sometimes you will be more hungry than others
Learning the difference between "no" and "not right now"
Learning that there is a difference between "in charge" and "in control"
Learning that dessert after dinner is not an indulgence -- it is a choice that is open to you


Behaviors and mindsets work together. Having some "go to" behaviors when you are tired is helpful. A small plate and the habit of plating your food in the kitchen will serve you well.

Being kind with yourself during times of stress and tiredness help keep you on track with your weight loss plans -- without sending you over the edge.

Understanding that mindfulness 24/7 is not realistic but to keep seeking it at each time you eat is important.

Mindsets form the baskets of your behaviors -- mindsets dictate what you will see as possible. It makes good sense to expand your vision of what you can do -- because honestly, most of us don't give ourselves enough credit. Behaviors are how we exhibit our mindsets -- and sometimes behaviors are what we keep doing until the mindset we want to create has settled in (the whole "fake it 'til you feel it" idea.

If you give your mindsets and your behaviors some thought -- you might find you see more options to create mindfulness in your life than you thought.

*****As a side note: I talked to a man yesterday who told me he has lost 10 pounds a year for the last 5 years -- and he was really happy about that. I was really happy that he can see that as real and meaningful progress.*****