Flatten Your Belly with Three Feelings

Do you really want to get lean and eat healthy, finally and for good?

Are you sure? Is it possible that you only think you want to firm up but, in secret, are quite satisfied with your body composition?

That’s the first step to breaking the barrier you’ve struggled with for so long. How do you know that you’re truly ready to be successful and let go of the excess fat? It’s simple. You know, deep down, that you'll feel better (physically and emotionally) when you do. And you want that enough to make no excuses until you get there.

If you haven’t reached that point yet, it’s really best you don’t say you’re going to lose weight. The fact is that deceiving yourself about the value a leaner body holds for you is just another opportunity to grind down your self-esteem. You want to be able to count on yourself, right? You want to feel proud of yourself, rather than disappointed, don’t you? So, you may just have to wait until you get to that point where you simply are set on your intention to do it, period.

Okay, let’s say you know, without hesitation, that you are there. You are SO THERE! Great. Here’s what you need to know first: Three feelings can make or break your efforts. Two are psychological and one is physical.

That’s right, most of it is in your head! How do I know that? Because the things that really are top priorities to you (paying your bills, taking care of your kids, grooming yourself, fulfilling your work or volunteer commitments, etc.) get done. No big mystery here. You think that stuff is more important than your body size and shape. And if it is, that’s okay. But if getting lean has risen to the level of value of those other concerns of yours, it's time to acknowledge your choice in the matter, starting with recognizing the importance of your feelings.

The first of the three feelings is physical. Most overweight people don’t eat specifically to stabilize their blood sugar. And the blood sugar roller coaster can devastate the most honorable of eating intentions. It just feels terrible to have an urgent, powerful drive to eat high calorie foods as fast as possible. And that happens not only with high-sugar, erratic eating patterns, but also with severely restrictive diets. That’s why so many fail or are unsustainable in the long-term. A winning eating style is flexible, nutrient-dense (not calorie-dense) and makes you feel great, all the time. It’s easier to create that condition than you think. I’ll expand on that later.

The second feeling you need to create is that uplifting and satisfying sensation you enjoy when you’re acting in accordance with your intentions. Willpower when your blood sugar is low is worthless. But if you feel physically good when you’re at a decision point, you can begin to string together a pattern of intention-based actions. That sharpens and reinforces your identity as a reliable person. We so frequently under appreciate the value of presenting that example to ourselves, as compared to how we present to those whom we care for and whose respect we covet. This doesn’t happen overnight. But establish and continue the trend for a few weeks, and you'll begin to feel a sense of self-mastery that is both empowering and liberating at the same time.

Finally, and more slow-moving but a real treat when it arrives, is the joy of noticing (and of others noticing as well) that your commitment has created a visible and darn good looking effect on your body! It’s hard to describe the elevating effect of wearing your achievement on your bones for you and all to see. People gush and lavish you with praise and hopeful curiosity, hanging on your insight and reassurance that they, too, can make the transformation of which you are a walking example. And that’s pretty nice. Mostly because you can have a real, positive influence on peers who want the same outcome you have worked to create.

The last two feelings are completely within your control. The first is a matter of physiology and biochemistry. But it’s not rocket science. In fact, the weight loss industry is rife with overly complicated, hyper-restrictive and just plain unrealistic approaches to weight loss. Keeping your blood sugar stable, so you’re physically capable of applying the self-discipline that will perpetuate the second and third feelings is a matter of prioritizing and proportional eating, hydrating and resting, and building on that basic foundation using specific daily habits that work for your lifestyle, your preferences and your schedule.

Several reputable programs that provide expert guidance on how to master these habits permanently are available. We offer a great online program and other resource providers do as well. When you’re looking for the right one for you, it should be provided by an exercise and nutrition authority (your activity level significantly affects how you should eat), be appraised and endorsed by a range of medical and wellness lifestyle professionals, and be conducted in a format that will set you up for the best chance of success (in-person, by phone, online, etc.)

Please contact me if you have any questions.

Dan Taylor, ACE, NASM-CPT, is owner and head trainer at Pleasanton-based Tri Valley Trainer. They offer personal training and small group fitness solutions and an innovative, medically endorsed web-based group healthy eating coaching program.