Are there words you hear in conversation that trigger a strong reaction in you?
”Stop!” is one that drives me nuts. I usually hear it as an expression toward me – an interruption in mid-sentence – to stop talking about whatever it is I’m talking about. I don’t often hear it directed at me as a cautionary word, one to protect me from harm or to keep me safe, like “Stop! There’s a red light ahead.” It’s usually expressed because the person I’m talking to doesn’t like what I’m saying. Sometimes they’re right, sometimes they’re not. The feeling it invokes in me is one of being unjustly restrained, and hence, I balk.
Let’s correlate that to food.
Before I started Weight Watchers, if anyone suggested to me that I “stop” eating the way I was eating, I’d balk. My defiance would rise and I’d continue my path of self-destruction. In fact, I’d probably eat more. Inside I felt rotten, defeated, restricted, and shamed. I knew deep down that I needed to change, but for whatever reason, I refused to. My loved ones who were saying “stop” really were telling me out of concern for my safety and health, but I couldn’t see that. There really was a red light ahead – one of dangerously ill health.
Now that I’m nearing my goal weight on the Weight Watchers program, I have a different attitude toward the word “stop” as it relates to food. Most of the time, but not always as I’m not perfect, I have my own internal stop dialogue. I use the tools I’ve been taught – like tracking my points, paying attention to hunger signals, eating filling foods, and so on – so I really don’t have to worry much about my internal stop dialogue.
But there are times – like tonight – where I’m not feeling well and I want comfort food. I’ve eaten all my daily points but I still want something more. It’s hard to trigger my own internal stop mechanism right now, but I also know that “just a little more” tonight won’t result in a complete spiral downhill on my progress. So, I’ll probably allow myself that Weight Watchers fudge bar, and count it toward my weekly allowance.
What’s one word that holds a lot of power for you?
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