How Perfectionism and Your Waistline are Linked

If you're perfectionistic, you may struggle with weight loss. I'll share how...

Perfectionism is about excessively high standards. The idea of doing something wrong or imperfectly creates anxiety and fear of negative consequences, such as embarrassment, failure, and letting oneself (of someone else) down.

Sometimes people develop perfectionism as a result of being frequently criticized and told that you’re not good enough. At an extreme, perfectionism is part of obsessive compulsive disorder. Sometimes perfectionism entails competitiveness with others and the drive to get ahead.

Perfectionism creates moving targets since it is never truly possible to do things just right and be the very best. And when it comes to eating and exercise, there is a big cost.

You eat a piece of pizza, think that you are incapable of eating healthy, and lose all motivation.

You miss an exercise session and think you’re totally off track.

You fail to lose a pound one week and conclude that you’ll never lose weight.

Realize that it’s impossible to do everything just right. Without using this idea as an excuse, let yourself off the hook every here and there. Instead of giving 120%, you can give 100% or 90% and achieve the same outcome. Often the outcome is better.

Research has shown that when people deprive themselves of any enjoyable foods, they end up overeating. Work to see food as not good or bad and not to see yourself as good or bad if you eat something that is less than ideal.

Accept your “mistakes” as minor setbacks without thinking in an all or none way and assuming that all is lost. Instead resolve to get back on track.

Thanks for reading and I'll be back with another post or two before Denise returns~ Larina

Comments

[Clinton Walker III]

It is very important to have realistic goals and slowly change your habits. There is some room for eating what you enjoy.