I have lost focus on fitness and myself this past month and I can feel it (though I have not really dared to climb on the weighing scale )
I did keep up with generally eating healthy (though while eating out even things that feel and look healthy are frequently high in calories )
And I did keep up with 3 hours + of exercise per week + getting 6-7 hours of sleep per week
But there is no denying I have gained weight as I can feel it
However even getting back on track feels different as I am doing it without any feelings of guilt
I was reading a New York Times Article recently which talked so clearly about what I was thinking
They talked about a virtue called Self Compassion as a key tool to weight loss
Self compassion is not to be confused with Self Indulgence
Dr Neff talks about it here
“I found in my research that the biggest reason people aren’t more self-compassionate is that they are afraid they’ll become self-indulgent,” said Dr. Neff, an associate professor of human development at the University of Texas at Austin. “They believe self-criticism is what keeps them in line. Most people have gotten it wrong because our culture says being hard on yourself is the way to be.” Imagine your reaction to a child struggling in school or eating too much junk food. Many parents would offer support, like tutoring or making an effort to find healthful foods the child will enjoy. But when adults find themselves in a similar situation — struggling at work, or overeating and gaining weight — many fall into a cycle of self-criticism and negativity. That leaves them feeling even less motivated to change.
“Self-compassion is really conducive to motivation,” Dr. Neff said. “The reason you don’t let your children eat five big tubs of ice cream is because you care about them. With self-compassion, if you care about yourself, you do what’s healthy for you rather than what’s harmful to you.”
So I am getting back on track with resolve but without guilt
