People have a strong tendency to begin a new diet on a Monday.
And, people also partake in hibernation calories in anticipation of the deprivation that lies ahead. Hibernation calories can be defined as the stock piling and consumption of calories that one consumes before the diet begins on Monday.
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Have you ever found yourself getting sucked into this Monday Mentality? Let me know if any of the following statements sound familiar to you:
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The day got off to a bad start, so I figured "why not blow the whole day?"
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Breakfast was good and lunch wasn't so bad, but then the afternoon cravings set in and it was downhill from there.
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Monday was great, but by Wednesday my willpower was waning.
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All of the prior statements leading up to: the week was awful, I'll start (again) on Monday!
First, let's be honest with ourselves about how damaging the hibernation calories can be. Eating everything your lips and hips desire can cause rapid weight gain before you have even begun.
Second, the major difference between how dieters and non-dieters eat is awareness. When someone is on a diet, they pay attention to what they are eating and whether or not it is following the suggested diet protocol.
When someone isn't on a diet there are no rules to break and you can allow yourself to eat whatever and whenever you want.
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My fashion twist on this topic: dressing without thinking might equate to a day of sweatpants, an over-sized flannel shirt and a baseball cap. These may be fashion conscious choices for some, but for others it may be what you wear when you don't want to be bothered.
This, of course, is very different, than dressing with awareness around what you want to look like, what you want to wear and factoring in your environment for the day.
Lastly, and most importantly, is how we can benefit most from these earlier points.
If you get off track with your eating whether it be with a food, a meal or a day of less-than-perfect choices, don't wait until Monday to get back on track. Start with the next food you eat, the next meal or the following day.
Take the magic out of Monday Mentality and you will no longer be a slave to this unproductive mindset. Start eating with awareness now!
The following article was given to GalTime with permission from Lori Reamer, RD, author of the book The Food That Fits: A Guide to Mastering Your Food Style.
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