Are You Building Your Life Around Your Recovery?

Or are you trying to build your recovery around your life?

(In this context I am using the term recovery to mean the freedom from the obsession with food and weight issues, the end of yo-yo dieting, the maintenance of a healthy and happy body.)

Have you defined for yourself mandatory positive self care rituals and routines: i.e. those things you must do on a consistent basis to support the maintenance of healthy weight loss?

Here are some of the most common “non-negotioables” that my clients have found to work for them in creating a life that supports long term weight loss.

set intention for the day: i.e."It is my intention to treat myself with love and respect."

daily meditation/conscious breathing

6-8 glasses of Water daily

fresh fruit and veggies daily

minimum of 10 minutes intentional movement/exercise daily

maintain awareness of breath throughout the day

take vitamins/supplements daily

positive self talk

make time to eat healthfully even when really busy (even just 10 minutes to be still and enjoy some yogurt and granola)

grocery shop and prepare foods for week

pack foods for the day

daily gratitude

connection to positive and supportive people

engage in some sort of fun activity or hobby on a regular basis

set boundaries

self love and compassion...no matter what!!

For those who are still constant passengers on the yo-yo dieting roller coaster, chances are you may be able to list your non-negotiables but you have not been able to incorporate them into your life on a consistent basis. If that’s the case you are most likely trying to build your recovery around your life. That usually doesn’t work for the long term. Think about it: if living your life the way you have been living it keeps you unhappy with your body and weight wouldn’t it make sense that some part of the way you are living your life must change if you want to be at peace with your body and weight?

Bottom line is this: you must allow your health and well being to be number one on your list of priorities. I know you have heard this time and time again. But it really is as simple as that.

I encourage you to set some time aside to be still and ask yourself, “What would my life look like if it was built around my recovery?” and “Am I building my life around my recovery or am I trying to build my recovery around my life?”

Know this: You have all the answers inside of you... all you have to do is listen.....

I have a new Overcoming Overeating Tele-Support Group starting next month. For information you can email me at louisa@louisalatela.com, call me at 856.429.9799 or visit Telephone Support Groups!.

Check out my free progressive relaxation exercise at:

www.liveyourhighestgood.com