Being thin can seem like the Holy Grail when you have weight to lose.
But it’s not.
It’s similar to thinking being rich will solve all your problems.
Sure, it’s nice.
But being rich or thin aren’t the huge answers to life that we sometimes imagine them to be.
Also, I don’t love the word thin.
I’d much rather the words fit or healthy.
Because thin doesn’t automatically equate to “fit” or “healthy.”
However, thin is the word that’s most used.
So I’m going to write this post with the assumption that thin means “fit and healthy.”
Thin-ness
The truth is that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to thin-ness.
And it won’t solve all your problems (issues with money, relationships, and food won’t be magically solved by being thin.)
For some who are thin, genetics does play a role.
But the real truth is that anyone, no matter their genes, can become overweight.
Even if you have a small frame.
Even if your parents are skinny.
Even if you’re fifteen or sixty-five.
And, on the flip side, anyone can lose weight.
No matter your size right now.
No matter if your parents are fat.
No matter how old you are.
You can become any size.
Even thin, or fit and healthy.
So, if thin is important to you, then here’s what I believe works:
1. Believe that you can be thin
It has to start here.
If you don’t believe being thin can happen to you, even just a little bit, it will be next to impossible.
Even if you lose a tonne of weight.
If you continue to identify with being overweight, obsessed with the scale and calories, then you’ll probably gain it all back.
Thin is in your mind.
It’s a mindset, before it’s a body type.
Just focus your mind on the size you want to be.
Be that size in your imagination.
Walk around as if you’re that size.
Live as if you’re that size (btw, if you haven’t seen it, check out the movie “I Feel Pretty,” on how to do this.)
Without even knowing how you’ll get there.
Just hold the belief that you will.
2. Drop the belief that you can’t eat carbs, sugar, or fat
If you start your journey to thin with a restriction mindset, you’re shooting yourself in the foot.
You’ll be discouraged before you even begin.
Because restricting yourself feels like punishment.
I’m sure you don’t want to be thin and live the rest of your life miserable or deprived.
The truth is that thin, healthy people eat all kinds of food.
Accept that truth.
It’s not the type of food that causes weight gain.
It’s the belief that it will make you fat, it’s the quantities, and it’s the reasons you’re eating them.
If you had a piece of your favorite cake…
And you truly believed it a delicious treat that you could thoroughly enjoy without guilt…
And you ate an amount just to satisfy you…
It would not make you fat.
A piece of cake won’t make you fat (neither does looking at one, I promise.)
3. Treat yourself like a human being
You don’t have to be super-human to be thin.
Thin people are human.
They screw up, they over indulge, they eat junk food.
You can be thin AND be human.
And you do that by allowing yourself to make mistakes.
Everyone makes mistakes.
Everyone does things they don’t intend to do.
But notice what you make those mistakes mean about yourself.
If you’re trying to lose weight, and you eat something you didn’t intend to eat, have compassion.
Don’t beat yourself up.
Don’t doubt your capabilities.
You are human.
Acknowledge your mistake.
And carry on.
Maybe even give yourself a hug while you’re at it.
4. Trust and let go of the numbers
Freedom.
Unlock the shackles of the scale.
Release the calorie counting.
Erase the dress size.
Imagine where you could just feel thin, without having to validate it.
You can do this (dress size is tricky, I admit, but not impossible.)
And I encourage you to do this.
No number will tell you that you’re the perfect size.
It’s something you have to feel in your body.
Wanting to be thin is really all about a feeling.
And it’s about all the imaginary things you associate with that feeling.
So, let go of the numbers.
Trust that you’ll know when you get there.
And celebrate all the qualitative changes along the way.
Is being thin (or fit and healthy) important to you?
There’s nothing wrong with saying YES here.
In fact, I think most of us would like to be thin and yes, rich too.
However, it’s important to notice what that really means to you.
And why you really want it.
Thin (and rich) is very subjective, so your definition is the most meaningful.
Know what exactly you want, why you want it, and then hold the belief that you CAN have it.
Keep moving forward my friend,
Debbie
P.S. If getting fit and healthy (or thin) at this time in your life is important to you, I can definitely help. Just email me at debbie@debbieharbeccoaching.com and let me know.