Beck Diet - Days 1 & 2

I admit, I seem to be having a hard time getting going. Just seems like there has been a lot going on lately and it's been hard to find the time to sit down and work through these exercises.

Last Monday, after my No More Lazy Chick post, I did sit down and tackle Day 1 of the solution. This involved thinking about the reasons that I want to lose weight and writing them down on an index card that I could then review every day.

I had actually done something along those lines in my food journal a few weeks ago - just had all these thoughts in my head that I needed to get out, so I had written them down. That made me feel like I had a bit of head start. So I reviewed my list, reviewed the list in the book and made my card. I decided on two times during the day when I should review my list.

Then things just got all crazy busy, and that was it for a week.

Today, I finally sat down and completed Day 2, which involves choosing two diets. I found this rather difficult. I understand the theory - basically giving myself a backup plan, but while I know that I need to diet, I'm not all that interested in specific diets, if that makes sense. Which is not to say that I don't need a plan, but I'm not looking to go out and buy diet books or sign up with any weight loss solutions.

I like calorie counting. It's very specific. I know how many calories I am allowed to eat, I plan out my day and do my best to stay within my calorie range. Nice and simple. So that is my first choice.

However, the one other thing that did work for me in the past was the old Weight Watchers plan where you counted servings of different food groups - Bread, Protein, Dairy, Fats, Fruits & Vegetables. However, I'm not sure whether this was due to the plan or my mind set at the time. It was the first time I'd ever really tried to diet and I was very motivated, able to exercise a lot of self discipline. I'd like to get that motivation and self-discipline back, I think that is what is missing, more than the right "diet plan."

For the purposes of this exercise though, I think I will choose that as my backup plan.

Day two also involved identifying any sabotaging thoughts I might be having about dieting, and about my choice of plans, and writing down responses to counter the self-sabotage on an index card.

So now I have a card listing the reasons why I am dieting, and one to help me counter negative thoughts. I need to review these regularly, to keep myself motivated.

I have also decided to just concentrate on losing 10 lb for now. I am hoping that a smaller chunk won't seem like such a big deal. I've erased my previous weigh-in history and I'm starting over. Though the Beck solution does not require that I start the actual diet yet, I am trying to ease into it.