Can You Trust Your Feelings?

Don't get scared by the title of this article—I'm not going to delve in to the bigger issues of life, or discuss the validity of intuition or the power of emotions. My focus today is strictly on health and fitness, and whether you can "feel" your way in to better shape.

The simple answer is, no you can't. Because your feelings are not always to be trusted, and in many cases the worst thing you can do (in terms of health and fitness, at least) is to let your feelings lead the way.

Here's a classic example: A woman who is 20-30 pounds above her ideal weight knows she needs to eat better and exercise. But she only does it on the days when she feels like it. And we all know how often those days happen—not very. Even if she is more disciplined than most people, it's still not enough to get her to her goals.  Because one of the biggest keys to fat loss is consistency.  And feelings aren't always consistent.

I can't tell you how many times people have made remarks about how easy it must be for me to stay in shape because not only do I do it for a living, but I enjoy it.  Ha! I say. There are many days I don't feel like working out and wish I could see results without it, but I can't. The only reason I stay fit is because I stay dedicated to my goal of being healthy and fit and I work out and eat well even when what I really feel like doing is lying on the couch with a pizza.

So, how might your feelings be leading you astray? Here are some of the most common "false feelings" that you need to be aware of, and the true statement you need to replace these feelings with whenever you experience them:

• I don't feel like working out today. True statement: "Even though I don't feel like working out, I know I want to (state your goal, out loud) and I need to do this.  So I am just going to suck it up and do it anyway." Why this is true: Because to stay on track, you need to burn calories whether you feel like it or not.
  
  
• I feel hungry. True statement: "Let me look back on my day and check a few things: Have I had enough water? Am I bored? Is there something I'd rather not do or think about that I'm trying to forget with food?" Why this is true: Often times, dehydration triggers false feelings of hunger, or we eat to distract ourselves from anything unpleasant.  Resolve to drink more water and take one small step to deal with whatever you don't want to deal with. If you're still truly hungry in 20 minutes, then you can eat.
  
• I don't feel like pushing myself. True statement: "If I don't do it, no one else will do it for me." Why this is true: Your health is ultimately your responsibility, and yours alone. Unless of course, you work with a Kris Wade Personal Fitness expert—we are always happy to push you to be as healthy as you can be.
  
• I wish I could lose weight. True statement: "I am going to do everything I can this week to improve my fitness." Why this is true: Weight loss and weight loss maintenance both take a commitment to living a healthier life, which means making healthy choices every single day.
  
  
• I don't feel like I've made any progress. True statement: "What results am I seeing? Are my clothes fitting better?  Have I lost inches?  Do I look better?  Do I have more energy?  Am I stronger?"  Why this is true: Everyone wants their efforts to have instantaneous results, but losing weight is a process. Even though you may not immediately have the figure of your dreams, you will quickly start to see changes—you just have to look for them and appreciate them as steps along the journey. (And if you can't answer yes to any of your questions, than something more than your attitude needs to change.)
  
• I drink water when I feel thirsty. True statement: "I will drink the recommended amount of water to meet my body's needs regardless of how I feel." Why this is true: As I discussed above, you can mis-read feelings of thirst for feelings of hunger, so not drinking enough water can lead to overeating. In addition, when the body does not get enough water the kidneys have a hard time performing their basic functions, such as flushing out toxins, so less important priorities, including fat loss and muscle gain, get moved to the bottom of the list-- meaning you have to work even harder to lose weight.

It's about time we stopped acting like emotional teenagers about our health and fitness and stepped up to the plate. Because the body of your dreams is within reach, so long as you are willing to put in the work. If you need any help, don't hesitate to speak with your Kris Wade Personal Fitness Expert, or to schedule a complementary discovery meeting with Kris to assess where you are and chart a course for the best way to get where you want to be.

Yours in good health,
Kris Wade