I won’t lie, thoughts of cutting have been flooding my head lately.
I’ve mostly ditched the scale and tracking with any precision after overcoming some gut issues that were triggered last year from a windfall of stressors.
Huge wins all around for me.
But in the wake of one type of healing, another has challenged has surfaced.
Turns out my unconditional self-love and peaceful stillness aren’t as polished as I’d like them to be. I know this because in my effort to focus less on my physical state and more on the mind/spirit connection to my health, I am encountering mental road blocks in self acceptance.
If this sounds at all familiar to you and you’re tempted to dive into a deficit thinking that will be the panacea, I encourage you to check out this list below. It's one I pull up when I need the reminder that 'it's not time.'
If you can’t put a giant green check next to every anchor…a calorie deficit (with any long term success) is not your next move:
⚓ Past Diet History: If you’ve been in a deficit OR *diet mentality* more time than not over the past year, it’s not time.
⚓ Hunger & Appetite: If you aren't comfortable and satiated no matter how high your calories, it’s not time.
⚓ Relationship with Food: If a healing protocol, reverse diet, maintenance phase didn't lead to more freedom and minimal cravings, it’s not time.
⚓ Recovery: If you’re not feeling well recovered and prepped for each training session, it’s not time.
⚓ Low Hanging Fruit: If you aren’t currently prioritizing water, digestion and sleep, it’s not time.
⚓ Stress Management: If you're feeling anxious at just the thought prioritizing yourself each day on top of a challenging season in life, it’s not time.
So even though I’ve been at maintenance (now a surplus) for 3+ YEARS, I'd still score myself at a solid B on the collective.
I haven't earned 'the right to diet.'
This is actually my one 'all or nothing' list because I know WHOLE HEALTH MATTERS and adding an *elective stress* like a calorie deficit during a time when I am still healing, would be satisfying my ego but sabotaging my long term health.
Tell me, is this list worth saving for you?
