How Do You Talk About Your Diet?

This is so true.
Talking about dieting in general makes you think about it all day. Making your diet routine boosts your ability to avoid temptations.
As you guys know, psychology is a big factor in dieting, and by dealing with it the right way, you can reach better results. When we feel like we "have to do" something, like Ali mentioned above, we aren't taking responsibility for our actions.

I suppose talking in a negative was isn't a good idea about what you want to do, but bad habits do need to be replaced with good ones, self talk alone won't cut it other wise more people would be thinner.

SO TRUE.

I did a video post on STOPPING MUSTurbating and it surprised me how many people lead lives restricted by shoulds and musts-----even though intellectually I realized.

I saw an interview with Jamie Lee Curtis once about "musts" and "have tos". She decided it war portraying a negative perspective of grown-up life to her children. So instead she'd say "Mommy gets to go to work now, and when I get back we'll go to the park." I like it.

"I get to make choices which affect the way I look and feel."
"I get to say no to fries, and yes to feeling light and attractive today."

i've always been a firm believer in "mind over matter"; is it not the same concept of thinking of workinging out while working out and burn more calories?

Great post! Language is more important than we think IMHO. We have the power to choose.

I like the idea of applying "musts" over "needs" in other areas of your life. When it comes to diet, I think this can work too, but I'm curious why you have to talk about your diet? I can understand if this is positive self talk. That makes sense. Others around you though don't need an explanation as to why you're eating certain things or why you aren't. That's your business. I'm a very strict (healthy) eater and I eat catered meals around other people at work. Quite often, I get questioned about my choices..."you're not having the scalloped potatoes?" or "having dessert?" Nope. I'm not. I see you are. Okay then.

I think it's weird we talk about food so much and focus on it and maybe even obsess about it. Food is fuel to me and I don't find it that particularly interesting. I do have a question for the last nosy coworker who couldn't believe I wasn't trying one of the white chocolate brownies, "What's up with exposing so much of your décolletage (chest) at work?" That I was curious about!

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I have in the past used the should, can't, need, etc. Now that I think about it I have naturally and gradually taken on the more affirmative am and will.

Very good post that makes you think.

I like the idea of applying "musts" over "needs" in other areas of your life. When it comes to diet, I think this can work too, but I'm curious why you have to talk about your diet? I can understand if this is positive self talk. That makes sense. Others around you though don't need an explanation as to why you're eating certain things or why you aren't. That's your business. I'm a very strict (healthy) eater and I eat catered meals around other people at work. Quite often, I get questioned about my choices..."you're not having the scalloped potatoes?" or "having dessert?" Nope. I'm not. I see you are. Okay then.

I think it's weird we talk about food so much and focus on it and maybe even obsess about it. Food is fuel to me and I don't find it that particularly interesting. I do have a question for the last nosy coworker who couldn't believe I wasn't trying one of the white chocolate brownies, "What's up with exposing so much of your décolletage (chest) at work?" That I was curious about!

Isn't it true that if we speak this way about any aspect of our lives that we find more success.

Excellent topic, very well put!

What a great reminder! Awesome post. Reminds me of this quote:

"Don't Should on Yourself."

I know for me that I've used 'can't' a lot when I'm counting calories and watching my weight. I've also mentioned to others that I was watching my weight which is a mistake. When someone knows I'm watching my weight, they monitor everything I eat (as if they know what's best for me!) I also know that when I'm 'watching my weight' that I tend to think about food a lot of the time. I'd like to have a relaxed attitude toward food and use it as fuel and still lose then maintain a healthy weight.

Avoid saying 'I'm on a diet'.

Say 'I have changed my diet' - and make it a permanent change

I'm always trying to stay positive when i talk about my eating habits and my exercise habits. I think it's important to always stay positive with the healthy changes we try to make in our lives.

Nicely said. I also believe that if you choose to do something, you will hold yourself more accountable for your actions. 'Need', 'should', 'must' can be easily followed by a third party 'but'. However, if you choose to do something and you don't, you are pretty much alone in the 'guilty' list.

This is an interesting topic, and frankly one that I never thought about. It seems that there are so many little things that can help or hinder a diet, and the only way to use them to your advantage is to know about them. Like I said, I've never thought about this before, but I can definitely see validity to these ideas.

I understand the need to stay positive, but sometimes, I really do need chocolate. It's those three days every month when I really and truly think that I might die without chocolate, and other than that, I don't even like the taste.

I think this is a great post, though. I have a friend who always keeps going on about how she wants to go jogging and she never can find the time. What it should really be changed to is "I'm going to go jogging" or something, and say it to people you know, that way you feel obligated to actually do it. It worked for me. I told my family and friends that I was going to join a gym, and after two weeks someone asked me about it so I finally went out and joined.

This is really interesting and powerful! I personally believe that the language and words we choose can have significant impact on self and those around us. I'm no expert in this field, but folks in neuro-linguistic programming (NLP), and neurolinguistics might be able to comment. Austin
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After the birth of my son I had to lose 30 pounds to get back to my original weight. To lose that weight I decreased my portion size, exercised daily and thought positively. I didn't go on any fad diets, all I did was eat healthy. I also had a food journal, that I would write everything down. I had a goal and I was determined to get there. If I was tempted I would think twice about eating that item, because I had to write it down on my journal. Keeping a journal made me think about what I was eating before I ate it. I knew it would be hard to lose that weight, but I also knew the end result would be worth it.

So true. I always avoid telling people that I'm on a "diet". I just tell people that I like to eat healthy and work out. Instead of telling people that "I should eat more veggies" or whatever, I tell people that I LIKE my veggies and fruits...it shouldn't feel like a chore. I also LIKE working out and make it pretty obvious to people that I do...I NEVER say "I should work out" or "I run, but I hate it...I just do it to get the results", which is what pretty much all my friends say.

I TOTALLY AGREE! I've been on 453 diets. No exaggeration. I've done everything from Atkins - Zone. I hate it. I've stopped dieting. It's much better now. I've being doing hypnosis lately and so now I'm all about positive self talk and allowing myself what I want with love. When I chose to feed myself with love, it changes my portion sizes and my food choices. It's kind of amazing what that brain shift will do.

Wow. This is a very good point. Just the other day a friend asked me, "How are you losing all this weight?" and I launched into this whole thing about how horrible, time consuming and obsessive my calorie counting and workout regimen is. That's bound to have an effect on my motivation.

Mentality is so important to weight loss, it cannot be understated. Just within our clinic, the difference between the people who have a positive attitude towards there goals and those who have a negative attitude is obvious from there progress

I do find it hard when I think I need something - filtering out the cravings and believing that you don't NEED things and changing it to a choice that you would like something makes it easier to say no I want to lose weight so I don't need the chocolate I just would like it.

Positive self-talk is such an important part of a successful diet. As I read your article, I kept a mental checklist of what I am doing as I am losing 150 pounds. I almost said "try to lose 150 pounds". Anyway, 38.5 pounds down. Thanks for the helpful reminder!