I am so honoured to have my dearest friend, Oliver Manalese share another guest post on my blog. Having gone through his own physical and emotional transformation and trying to understand and make sense of the world of ‘dieting,’ Oliver shares the honest and raw truth about diets that go beyond food and exercise. As a personal growth and transformation coach, Oliver works closely with people to help them step into their power and achieve a life they love. From business, to relationships and personal growth, I’ve worked closely with Oliver over the years. He has provided me with tools and insights that I use in my everyday to help keep me in alignment with my true self. You can visit Oliver on his blog HERE and check out his other guest post on personal growth HERE. Let’s welcome Oliver Manalese…
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I found it impossible to recognize myself.
One vacation photo captured it all. Me, chugging a beer, and rocking a serious buddha belly really blew my mind that I couldn’t believe it was me! That was when I made a choice that changed my life forever.
Continuing on this path would have meant that staying chunky was my choice. But that was not an option. The dissatisfaction with my current state and intense desire for bettering myself meant I had to kick the old me out the door for good.
When we’re not aware or honest about our destructive habits, or do a reality check, nothing changes. But when we do become aware, new possibilities for change open up.
Every diet I discovered was bullsh*t. The results never lasted. These are what worked for me and people I know. These are the reasons you need to quit your diet, focus on lifestyle instead, and expand your self awareness, or your efforts won’t stand a chance.
1. You’re a bully
I’ve often said that the biggest bully is the one in the mirror. The way you talk to yourself and treat yourself are what keep you off course from the awareness and transformation that result in a healthier, happier, you. Programs, pills, and potions won’t save you from this. Developing compassion, will.
2. Forget about weight loss
Most dieters focus so much on losing weight. This puts the cart before the horse. Weight loss is a byproduct of a healthy lifestyle. It’s not just food, it’s everything! Exercise, sleep, relationships, rest and so much more. Aim for health and well being. Everything else will follow.
3. Health is not a product
You can’t buy your way to health. It’s an every choice, every thought, every day, sorta thing. Stop buying into everything under the sun for the dream of being like the fitness models you see in commercials. Stop believing that some diet is the magic solution. Aim for health with your lifestyle choices and watch what happens!
4. Excusing/hating others
“It’s easy for her, she’s naturally skinny” or “He has better genes than me” or “You’re so lucky.”
Give it up already. I love how Robin Sharma says, “Excusing others is simply excusing yourself.” Stop worrying about other people and focus on what you have power over. You!
5. Others
Look at the people around you. These are people who can pressure you right out of your new lifestyle. You don’t put a recovering heroine addict in a drug house, so why mix yourself up in temptations and peer pressure from others? If you know you’ll be tempted, spend less time with them.
6. Every day start at zero
So you devoured a dozen freshly baked cookies in an emotional frenzy. Cheating that day doesn’t mean failure tomorrow. Start at zero every day. Stop letting mistakes from yesterday compromise the opportunity of today.
7. Overcompensating elsewhere
What we excessively take away from one area, we excessively make up in another area. Deprivation usually ends badly. Eating less, having cravings, and being cranky is bad news all around. We end up doing so well for a few days and then because we’ve been “so good,” we “deserve” extra slices of pie and scoops of ice cream.
8. Hitting the goal
Yay! We hit our diet goal, we’ve made it as a human being, we’re done now! Sorry to burst your bubble, but it never ends. Diets sell you the idea that there is an end, but well-being is a daily practice.
9. Get stoked!
Get curious about health and well being. Get interested in the amount of energy you will create for yourself. Get excited about all the things you can achieve and accomplish when you become stronger, leaner and happier. It takes small changes over time and you might not see results right away. Just keep going. Trust the process.
10. Dream big, start small
The surest recipe for failure is trying to do everything at once. Out of excitement we overstock on products, health foods and diet guides. We try to implement twenty new habits and we wonder why we’re not getting anywhere. It takes steam to get any train going and to slowly gain momentum. So do you.
Start with one thing. Master it. Build from there.
Quit your diet now. Choose a better lifestyle. Make it a daily practice.
Gain awareness, build your self confidence, and you will begin to feel that you deserve and owe it to yourself to make choices for your well-being. The hard work of daily exercise, eating quality food, surrounding yourself with supportive people will all fuel the process and push you even further.
And when your friends see you transform and sense a massive shift in your energy, they will undoubtedly ask what diet you’re on. When they do, make sure to have a puzzled look on your face when you respond with: “What’s a diet?”
Guest Post Written By: Oliver Manalese
www.olivermanalese.com
www.olivermanalese.com
Diet Image/Photo Credit: Sarah Faith
[https://www.flickr.com/photos/sarahfaith/]
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