Many of us like to think of a diet as a temporary suspension of our usual way of life. Knowing that we are working towards a specific goal can help us to stay motivated when the going gets tough, whether the endpoint is a certain amount of time participating in a weight loss program or a particular goal weight. So, what happens when we get to the “end?” What changes when we reach the “post-diet” point in time?
Think of the diet not only as a means to an end, but as one stage in your progression to a new phase of your life. The diet stage is a time to establish new eating habits, overcome obstacles to weight loss, and begin to prioritize healthy living. For many people, this is the most challenging phase, as it is a time when multiple lifestyle habits must change, and these habits have been developed, rehearsed, and solidified over the course of a lifetime! Having achieved your goals in the diet stage, you can use the post-diet stage as a time to solidify the “New You.” This does not mean that you will be dieting forever, but that your approach to thinking about food, eating, and physical fitness has shifted. The “New You” is more educated about food and nutrition, more mindful of what and how much you eat, able to successfully adjust your food intake when needed to sustain a healthier diet, more satisfied with your weight, and more physically fit. The “New You” wants to stay that way!
Before considering how to keep the “New You” healthy, it is important to ask yourself whether you have reached your goals during the diet stage. Did you reach your goal weight? If not, can you envision feeling satisfied with the “New You” at your current weight? The next steps you will take in redefining your lifestyle habits will depend upon how you answered these questions.
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