Lets Speak Up............There Is Always A Way

If it is important to you, you'll find a way.

If not, you'll find an excuse !

It's a shame that the photo you chose to illustrate your thoughts here just enforces the stereotype of the fat stupid female--indeed, she looks almost mentally-impaired-- powerless over food. I personally find this offensive, especially used in an article which is targetted towards people who might be sensitive to this stereotype.

I do agree. It's when we feel overwhelmed that it may appear all too much. In these situations making small changes and gaining small wins will help get us out of the rut/situation. It takes time and commitment.

If it is important to you, you'll find a way.
If not, you'll find an excuse !

I can see and understand your view point. To offend, was not my intention at all. I chose this article leaning towards a humorous angle trying to illustrate that we cope better when we create an environment which makes it harder to fail and easier to move forward, hence all the practical tips in the article. Having overcome a history of distorted eating myself, this has shaped my practice at focussing on behaviour changes principles to get my clients to stop dieting and eat a little of everything guilt free. I am certainly very mindful of one's possible sensitivities surrounding weight loss. I try with my articles and information provided to always evoke a thought or feeling towards self reflection, in this case to call out for some help to who ever that may be.

It's a shame that the photo you chose to illustrate your thoughts here just enforces the stereotype of the fat stupid female--indeed, she looks almost mentally-impaired-- powerless over food. I personally find this offensive, especially used in an article which is targetted towards people who might be sensitive to this stereotype.

I have to respectfully disagree with #5. sleeping in your exercise gear sounds obsessive and mildly dysfunctional on a psychological level. If you did that, and did not get up to exercise, there is likely to be an increased amount of shame, anxiety, or guilt over not following through right away. Seems like that would push you back into the "What's the point?" mentality a lot of us have had in the past when we "fail."

To be honest, the biggest thing anyone can do to help them during this process is to speak to a therapist about their eating issues. As much as we would not like to admit it, none of us got to where we are because we have a healthy, non-dysfunctional relationship with food. Short term changes are relatively easy, but the long-term changes we need to make are extremely difficult without professional support.

The second most important thing is to stop putting moral labels on food. No food is "clean" or "good" or "bad." It just is. By putting those labels on different foods, you are giving the food the power to dictate how you will view yourself for the day. If you didn't "eat clean" does that make you a dirty person? You may not say it to yourself outright, but I'll bet anything you'll be thinking that in some form. When food stops being a moral choice, and simply a nutritional choice, we stop giving food control over our lives and start controlling the food.

I agree with @@LumpySpacePrincess, assigning labels to food only serves to complicate things for dieters. Food is either nutritious or its not, we choose which ones we eat. By assigning a label to the food, it then labels us and with the struggles we already face, being labeled is the last thing we need. I was not offended by the picture but I was offended by the statement that Parisshel made that the woman looked mentally impaired, again another unnecessary label The woman is obviously obese and carries a lot of her weight in her face, by no fault of her own. The photo was tongue in cheek...She had chips on both her shoulders, temptation whichever way she turns. I agreed with some of the items on the list and disagreed with others but all in all a good article.