A Nondiet Approach
1. Focus on your total health and well-being, including mind, body, and spirit, instead of focusing on weight loss or striving to reach an unrealistic weight.
2. Respect and accept the diversity of the physical attributes of your own body as well as the bodies of others.
3. Develop a true awareness of the pleasures of eating -- rely on internal hunger cues.
4. Enjoy a variety of foods rather than relying on limiting diets or strict meal plans.
5. Celebrate the joy of physical activity. Include a wide array of activities, rather than follow rigid routines or regimented exercises.
6. Honor and love yourself fully and authentically.
Learn to Care for Yourself
Get acquainted with your internal caretaker, the inner part of you that nurtures you, loves you unconditionally, and always treats you with kindness and respect. Listen carefully. Your internal caretaker gently coaxes you to eat when you're hungry and to stop when you're satisfied.
Respond to your small needs, such as putting on hand lotion when your hands feel dry, getting a drink of water when you're thirsty, or taking a moment for time alone, rather than waiting until you finish one more task.
- Buy yourself a luxurious new robe.
- Read a novel or one of your favorite magazines.
- Meditate or take a meditation class.
- Paint your toenails or give yourself a foot massage.
- Buy a new cookbook and treat yourself to a gourmet meal. (Yes, it's OK!)
- Take a nap in the middle of the day.
- Take the afternoon off and rent a favorite movie.
- Slip out of the office for a manicure.
- Treat yourself to some exquisite new undergarments.
- Meet a dear friend for cappuccino.
- Play with a child or a pet.
- Sit and do nothing.
Taking care of yourself is important not only for yourself, but for your family as well. Once you are happy with who you are, everything else falls into place. Dieting is no longer a chore!
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