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Hi Reader,

Are you, like many of my clients, a master dieter? You have successfully lost weight and gained it back many times. Most likely, you have tried many different diets and weight loss programs. But each time you finish the diet, you regain the weight. Why does it happen?

We look for external sources of information on eating and weight loss. The best new diet, weight loss supplement or medication, or the most effective workout. Whether it’s the point system of Weight Watchers or calorie counting via an app, you rely on an external tool to tell you what and how much to eat.

Don’t get me wrong, there are a lot of helpful tools in the weight-loss industry. However, unless you learn to listen to your body, start eating when you’re hungry, and stop when you’re full, all these external resources are only temporary solutions.

When was the last time you were really hungry? Some people eat preemptively so as not to feel hungry or not to run out of energy during a workout. While it might be a good idea before a marathon, you don’t need to fuel up for a one-hour workout at a gym. Your body can access your fat stores and burn them for extra energy.

Another challenge is recognizing when you have enough to eat and that it’s time to stop. It’s even more difficult for people who rely heavily on food deliveries or often eat out. The portions are frequently oversized to meet anybody’s needs. And it might be too much for you, but it’s in front of you, and you finish it anyway.

Hunger is not the most pleasant sensation. Eating relieves that discomfort and often feels good. However, you need food to fuel you, not to feel good, not for comfort, not as a reward, and not as a distraction. Associating eating with anything other than nourishment creates cravings and unhelpful attachments.

In summary, to have lasting success with weight loss, you need to learn to:

1. Eat when hungry
2. Stop when satisfied
3. Think of food as a source of fuel

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Until next week, take care!

Olga

P.S. Let's chat if you need coaching to solve your weight-loss problem.