Too much justifying!

Hello!

As summer approaches and we start to take off the layers of clothes, lots of us are busy trying to get into tip top shape!!

There’s the obvious ways to go about this – to look and feel amazing we need to exercise regularly. And we need to also eat well – nothing new. But here’s a massive problem when it comes to the eating well part….

We spend LOTS of time justifying WHY we eat crap !!

Here’s some examples of how we justify what we eat:

• It was bla-bla’s birthday and so I had to have some cake
• Everyone else was having some
• Yes I had some pie, but I didn’t have as much as everyone else so that’s ok
• There was nothing else in the fridge/pantry
• I was stressed/emotional
• I have my period / I’m getting my period – I have NO time for this one!!!
• We were out, and there was no other options
• And my all time favourite – I was “hungry” or “starving” or “craving” something.

If we worked as hard trying to eat well as we do trying to justify our not-so-great habits – we’d all be much better off!! Don’t get me wrong, I do this too – not in relation to eating or exercise, but in other aspects of my life. When we make poor choices, it’s often much easier to deal with when we use a reason or excuse why it just ‘had to happen’.

Now I’m not saying that you can’t have cake on someone’s birthday, or you can’t eat a treat-meal when you go out, HOWEVER, if you’re on a weight loss mission and aren’t getting where you want to be due to over-eating or making poor choices, then be careful you’re not sweeping that issue under the mat by justifying your actions. Be honest about why you’re making the choices you make, and don’t constantly try to make it ok by convincing yourself that it had to happen.

If I was out and about, and for whatever reason McDonalds was the only place to eat (which these days it never is) – I would hold off and eat later, or I would have been organised and brought something from home to eat instead. Trying to sell ‘there was no where else to go’ doesn’t cut it, and this really comes down to priorities.

Be upfront and honest with yourself, don’t feel guilty if you do over-do it, but also try not to keep telling yourself why you just ‘had’ to have that piece of cake! It might make you feel better mentally, but your body’s still gotta deal with those calories!

If you’re committed enough and organised enough – you’ll make great choices. And if you slip up and eat half a cake, get on with things and fix it, don’t convince yourself it’s what you ‘have’ to do every time someone has a birthday! (especially if you have lots of friends!!)

Have a good day!

Paula