Pretty much all of us know, or can quickly find out, what the 'best' way is to lose weight and get in shape. We'll know it is going to be about eating less and moving more, keeping a positive attitude, fostering endurance, making lifestyle changes, and setting goals.
We walk past the newsstands and read the headlines of the glossy magazines with hard-to-believe title covers such as 'lose 10 pounds in one week with this little known method... ' The reason that many diets fail is that we see the diet as something being administered from without, a foreign element in one's life, an unwelcome guest. It can seem as uncomfortable as wearing a knight's full armor all day long - something you'd endure if you had to (but want to get rid of as soon as possible).
This mindset comes from the point of view that where we are now is a 'wrong' place, where we want to go will make everything all better, AND the road to get there is strange and unwanted. But what if you could design a unique diet and fitness program that matched your personality, one that reflected your deepest values, your true character? Studies have shown that linking your diet to your innermost values and truer sense of self will be much more powerful when that extra cupcake comes around.
How You Can Use Your Character As The Starting Place
The examples below will help you to identify patterns of your own, finding a diet that starts from within, not from without. What are some ideas that you can gather about yourself and use as a foundation for wellness?
The Social Butterfly: You love being with people at work and at home. You are open, communicative, and love large groups and gatherings. Your diet and fitness routine will work best if you join forces with others, for example online forums, a community center, dieting with several friends, or a Weight Watchers group. Sports would be group activity such as mall walking, buddy-workouts, community work on weekends. As long as a friend is waiting for you, you'll be out the door with no trouble at all.
The Competitor: Nothing much motivates you without a chance of winning something. You wake up at the thought of conquering your opponent, beating your former record, and documenting your successes. In sports, you might find that tennis or training to run a marathon might suit you well. If you are not able to do strenuous sports, you might find that coaching a local little league team gets you outdoors and motivated. Indoor community sports such as basketball or racquetball would make you forget all about burning calories! A competitive diet should be avoided in favor of healthy choices, but involving others in your quest for the best might work out well.
The Outdoorsman: You just can't wait to get outside. Nothing is more stimulating than a fresh breeze, nature setting, and connection to the bigger whole. You may find that fishing and bringing home your dinner supports that connection. Hiking, swimming in the sea, flying a kite, stand up paddling, bird watching, or even a lunch break in a local park setting - these activities and many more are available to many of us. You might find that grilling for friends, visiting a local farm market, designing a smokehouse of your own, or eating unprocessed foods will honor your inner adventurer.
The Dreamer: To take a break, you like to get away from it all. Travel is not necessary as long as you can fully relax and be yourself, look inwards, reflect and relax. Your sports personality might be attracted to silent walking meditations, yoga, tai chi classes. You might enjoy a bit of ritual and ceremony around eating by using a carefully set table, candlelight, and creative cooking. You may enjoy books that explain the spiritual nature of foods, the healing property of foods, the right ways to combine them for easy digestion and a peaceful feeling, or even attractive food presentation for mindful eating.
The Giver: You find it hard to diet just for you and would prefer less attention and hub-bub. But cooking for the community bake, walking for a breast cancer fundraiser, buying from suppliers that respect the environment, donating time and energy to causes - these activities get you out of your Sunday sofa without any effort at all. Dieting to be healthy in later years and not a burden to others might be your biggest motivator - so your healthy lifestyle is fueled by a do-good attitude.
The Activist: You need to motivate others to motivate yourself. You might not find it fun to take a walk alone, but would love to organize others, motivate others to join you. You might find yourself spreading the word about an event dedicated to genetic manipulation of foods, or starting a bio cooking class, or becoming a boot camp instructor, or rallying others at the office to take a no-junk-foods-on-Monday pledge (or similar). Healthy habits will come from an effort to make a difference in the healthy habits of those around you.
The Lover: Your love of life and of your partner is the biggest motivation of all. The thought of wearing that special dress on Saturday night helps get those extra situps in your routine. Shopping and planning for a romantic candlelight dinner for 2 or jogging with your loved one for 20 minutes every morning solidifies the dedication to your health and your relationship together. Taking a spa weekend together, finding sports activities that you both enjoy, celebrating your life as one - these powerful motivators can boost health and self-esteem at the same time.
The Variety Guy: Anything and everything is fine until it becomes monotonous and boring. A daily walk to work or other base level physical fitness activity can be supported only if there is a new stimulation on the horizon. You'd love to try a new style of yoga, take a samba dance class, learn to juggle, go out canoeing, join a pickup soccer game, try a stretch routine at home. As long as there is something 'new' about it, your personality fits right in. A cooking course for Japanese cooking or flavorful low-cal options, experimenting with different table décor, adding creative healthy snacks to your repertoire...
Most all of us will do better if we honor who we are, first and foremost. Secondly, there is no end to the amount of creativity we can use to look and feel our very best. Thirdly, it is empowering to break out of the idea that we have to fit into someone else's shoes! Have you learned to create harmony in your healthy habits lifestyle?
Tatiana is the creator of 'The 3 Step Mind, Body, and Self Care Transformational System' for young professionals who want to feel confident, look great, and live custom-designed healthy lifestyles. She brings 8 years of health coaching experience to her programs designed for today's young adults. Her dynamic approach brings out individual strengths to looking, feeling, and living one's best life. Visit http://www.bodyvisionhealthcoaching.com/ to find out more.