The Shift You Need to Keep Moving When the Scale Doesn’t

Have you ever started something- a new job, new relationship, new diet- but then something comes up and you find yourself back to square one… maybe even beating yourself up for “failing”?

This happened to a client the other day.

She was making such great progress and then hit the dreaded plateau… *dramatic music*

She was so close to fitting in those jeans and yet she wasn’t quite there…

She decided to step on the scale and seeing the number that wasn’t what she was expecting felt like a shock and she found herself wanting to return to the sweets to cope with the stress she felt.

(I banish the scale for my clients for this reason).

There is a really common pattern we all are capable of experiencing- of falling back into your old ways of doing things.

If you're not consciously moving through the process, it’s easier to get back into beating yourself up than a new pair of jeans.

This feels terrible and beating yourself up about it doesn’t- in my experience- motivate you to get back on track. 

You’re not alone, we’ve all been there.

So what the heck happened to begin with?

The most common trigger I hear from my clients may come as a surprise- fear.

This can create a downward spiral… and fast… and before you know it, we’re “starting over again”.

What we need to be talking about before there are any changes happening to your diet is how to deal with fear of the unknown, especially when it comes to creating a new body.

Here’s why: This body you’ve dreamt of… if you were to have it… would have it’s own set of experiences that you haven’t emotionally prepared for and that can be a little nerve-wracking.  

Fear of the unknown, fear of being seen, fear of intimacy… All the fears come out to play when we are changing our bodies.

It’s totally normal in the behavior change process to want to follow the well worn path… it’s familiar and therefore, safe.

But safe doesn’t equal optimal so we need to start paving a new path, a more- or at least equally- satisfying path so that you aren’t having to work twice as hard to see some actual results.

I’m not talking about trading carrots for chocolate (like, c’mon, who’s actually been successful with that??).

I’m talking about about being able to feel stable when your off balance.

My clients stories typically sounds like this…something happens (work stress, kids’ sports schedule changes, a family member needs you, etc), your “diet” is still new and it feels a little overwhelming to have one more plate in the air… you feel confident for a few days balancing this extra plate and maybe notice a little wobble… then you feel doubtful… and anxious and it’s easier to throw in the towel on the way back to square one.

That’s when that old, familiar tune of “why bother?” gets started and suddenly you’re totally off the wagon.

Sound familiar?

It’s like you’ve been ice skating… on one foot.

If you’ve never skated, you could keep trying this approach…

Or you could try something totally new.

This is the shift I LOVE helping my clients make.

It seems simple but it requires some trust….

All you’d have to do is put the other foot on the ice- it’s equally smooth under the second skate.

You can coast for a few feet… and then you can actually push off with the foot that had felt wobbly, creating more speed.

How would that feel?

What would the shift look like in your process?

Would you pick up speed by changing up your exercise routine to add more fun options?

Re-evaluating your “diet” menu to add some variety?

Resting more…?

(hint: it’s usually the one that is followed by “I can’t do that”)

When you make the shift, you may be surprised how much more balanced you feel and that is where you start to pick up speed.

Shifting like this keeps the stakes low, it’s not a make-or-break high stakes game anymore, it’s natural…. it’s intuitive and it feels good…

The most fun part is, my clients are totally brilliant- you already know what you need you just forgot you’re wearing two skates ;)

I’d love to know what shift you’re inspired to make this week that feels more balanced to you.

Have fun shifting,

Courtney

P.S. If you’d like me to drop some intuitive eating tips into your inbox each week, leave your email below- I’ll start you off with my Guide to Effortless Health as a self-assessment to help you get started.