Dear Basya,

I am so upset. Every morning I start the day off with such good intentions. However, day after day, something gets in my way and throws me off course. I mess up, give up, and resolve to do better the next day. However, the next day comes and nothing changes. How do I break this cycle for once and for all?

Signed,

Dieting and Despairing

Dear Despairing,

What you are experiencing is not uncommon! And it is such an appropriate question for this time of year, as many of us are committing to do better personally and spiritually. I believe that your key to change will lie in changing one small thought pattern. Instead of resolving to do better the next day, how about deciding to do better right then and there?

Tell yourself, “Yes, I was challenged and chose poorly, but that doesn’t mean I need to wait until tomorrow to do better. I can do better today—right now!” The challenge is to do things differently than you have been until now. By changing your thought pattern you change your behavior, and, over time, these small behavior changes will lead to new habits.

Instead of:

Eating unplanned food = thinking “I already messed up, I will start again tomorrow” = eating more = weight gain + despair + reinforcing old habits

Try this:

Eating unplanned food = thinking “I can still do a great job today; I can stop right now!” = not eating more = weight loss + hope + developing new habits

Best,

Basya

Basya Kovacs is a nutrition counselor at Nutrition by Tanya, and is a co-manager of the Five Towns location. Nutrition by Tanya offers personalized and practical weight management and nutrition counseling for men, women, and children. Nutrition by Tanya has locations in Boro Park, Flatbush, Williamsburg, Monsey, Lakewood, the Five Towns, Monroe, and Israel (coming soon). The office can be reached at 844-TANYA DIET.

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