Imagine your most recent episode of overeating. What words might you choose to describe your actions? Here are a few common responses I hear. Bad Disgusting Out of Control Weak Powerless Broken Hopeless I'm going to ask you to reconsider and try on the following words instead. Connection Powerful Survival We ordinarily think of compulsive eating as a “bad” thing - something we ought to be ashamed of. In reality, our compulsions around eating serve two very powerful purposes: to numb out undesirable feelings and to bring us comfort. As children, we’re not always capable of handling the intensity of the feelings we’re presented with. Feelings like fear, abandon, grief, panic or inadequacy. We learn early on that … [Read more...] about What Your Compulsion is Trying to Teach You
Weight Loss Coaching
3 Ways to Measure Progress (without the scale)
I’m helping my friends over at Orange Theory Fitness with their 6-Week Weight Loss Challenge and we're currently at the half-way point. The question I’m getting most often from participants is this... How come the scale isn’t moving? Help! Where to begin with this one? First of all, if I were designing a weight loss challenge (I prefer transformational challenge), the scale would be tossed out the window, used for target practice or locked in a dungeon filled with ogres. I'm partial to #3. Trying to lose weight can mess with our heads - big time. I call this diet mentality. And the scale contributes to this way of thinking. Do you let the number on the scale affect your mood? Do you weigh yourself obsessively? Do you … [Read more...] about 3 Ways to Measure Progress (without the scale)
Why Your Weight Loss Attitude Matters
You've decided you really want to lose the weight. The scale has been dusted off, the stuff piled on the treadmill has been put away and the fridge and pantry have been cleaned out and restocked with healthy food. You're ready to rock and roll, right? Not exactly. There’s one more choice to make - and it's a biggie. There are two types of wanting when it comes to losing weight - feel bad wanting and feel good wanting. Huh? Let me explain. Let’s start with feel bad wanting - the approach most of us take. When the feel bad dieter thinks about the journey ahead it feels like - dread, overwhelm, desperation, sadness, frustration and deprivation - to name a few. Most feel bad dieters choose suffering - extreme diets, no pleasure and forced … [Read more...] about Why Your Weight Loss Attitude Matters
6 Simple Steps For Managing Your Emotions (without turning to food)
I’m a pretty even-tempered chick. On a scale of 1 to 10 - Ice Princess being 1 and Drama Queen being 10, I’d say I’m around a 3 or 4. Over the years, I've learned how to keep my emotions in check... ...but that doesn’t mean I don’t have an occasional drama queen moment. Au contraire. Last week, after a series of pesky annoyances, inconveniences and disappointments - one event finally pushed me over the edge. I found myself in front of the fridge stuffing down leftover grilled bison dogs with tears streaming down my face. Yes, bison hot dogs. Clearly I don't keep chips, cookies or ice cream around. While devouring bison dog #2, I suddenly took a step back and thought - what the heck are you doing Robyn? It’s been a long time since I … [Read more...] about 6 Simple Steps For Managing Your Emotions (without turning to food)