I want you to do something for me that will feel incredibly uncomfortable.
However, it will also significantly help you in reaching your goals.
It’s a concept that I learned from one of my former Dietitian Nutrition Coaches who was tired of seeing me “start over” every single week.
You see, my cycle was predictable as I first started rebuilding my body after I struggled with an eating disorder for years while pushing (and punishing) my body in 100 mile mountain ultra-marathons.
I’d be 100% perfect from Monday through Friday. Then, I’d fly off the handles on Saturday, let it spiral into Sunday, and promise to do better on Monday.
My coach was getting frustrated and he asked me to do something for him.
He said… let’s measure the failure.
He asked that the next time I go off the rails, to put everything into my food tracking App.
He said, I’ll only ask you to do this once but just humor me and do it.
So I agreed.
And it completely reframed the way I looked at my “setbacks.”
I remember being shocked at how ridiculous I was being.
Once I saw the actual calories, I realized that it wasn’t actually that bad.
In fact, I couldn’t believe that an entire bar of dark chocolate would be doable even on a day where I hit my numbers perfectly.
Then, we simply rearranged my numbers to place an un-tracked day on Saturday, and he lowered my calories every other day by about 200 calories.
That way, he knew that when I went overboard, I was still hitting my weekly averages which is what mattered the most.
I made a ton of progress and finally regained trust in myself and improved my relationship with food.
I highly recommend you also “measure the failure.”
The next time you end up overindulging, just track it.
Do it once to see for yourself that it’s probably not that bad.
It’ll be an eye opening experience that will help you get out of the all or nothing mindset.
You down to give it a try?
If you’re brave, send me an email and I’ll hold you accountable.
