Day 8: Break the Diet FOMO with This New Mindset

When we start a diet, the first thing we think about is what we have to give up. We quickly look at our calendar to help us decide if our new diet will fit our social calendar. We begin making a list of all the foods and drinks we won’t be able to eat anymore. Sigh. “Oh snacks how I love thee! How can I binge-watch Netflix without you?” Diet FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out while dieting) sets in before you even begin. What if we could change our mindset behind what we have to give up so we don’t get so discouraged?

FOMO – The Real Fear

In fact, what if we were more concerned about what we are giving up if we continue doing what tastes good and feels good in the moment? Why aren’t we already experiencing Health FOMO; the fear of missing out on a healthy life, feeling good in our clothes, having great medical check-ups and having enough energy to do all the great things we dream of doing?

What is really more important? The taste of our favorite cheat meal for 30 minutes or feeling good in our skin 24 hours a day? Our mindset would be totally different if we focused on the prize more than the cost. We would be so much better off if we were able to actually look at the big picture. Because, honestly, the cost is so little compared to the reward.

Pete, our children’s pastor at Calvary Chapel, was talking to me about the power of saying “no”. He explained how saying no to one thing, is actually saying yes to something else (or someone else) better. He was talking about responsibilities and marriage, but the same can be applied with diet. By saying yes to pizza and hamburgers, you are saying no to a smaller waistline. However, on the contrary, by saying no to pizza and hamburgers you are saying yes to feeling fit, healthy and energized by more nutritious food.

Just like our diet, we can use the same application with exercise. While sleeping in may seem very appealing at the time the alarm goes off, saying no to the snooze button is saying yes to burning fat, gaining strength and boosting energy. When you put it into perspective like that, saying no is easy. There really is no comparison.

If you have diet FOMO, the best thing you can do is change your mindset and put things back into perspective, looking beyond your tastebuds and the next 30 minutes of fun.

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Action Steps

1. Diet FOMO – what are foods you immediately think you will miss while on a diet? What about drinks? How do those things affect your life long-term?
2. Health FOMO – what health issues, concerns or repercussions do you fear most? Who do they affect? How could they change your life long-term – whether you work on them or ignore them?
3. Now compare the two – which holds more value to you?
4. Write it down – Write down what is MOST important so you are reminded of it daily.

Scripture of the Day

“I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.”  Philippians 3:14

Mantra of the Day

Don’t worry about what you are giving up now. Worry about what you risk giving up if you quit pressing on. – Bonnie Pfiester

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Are you on a diet and need help making smarter choices when dieting out?

Tips to Dining on a Diet