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THE 20-MINUTE DIET

WANT TO SHIFT THAT MUFFIN TOP FOR GOOD? JUST CHANGE YOUR WAY OF THINKING AND YOU'LL NEVER COMFORT EAT AGAIN....

By Wendy Saunt

Hands up who’s ended another hard week at work with a takeaway, or mended a broken heart with a tub of Häagen-Dazs? So that’s all of us then.

We’re wired to comfort eat through tough times, say Amanda Hamilton and Sandy Newbigging, authors of the new book, Life-Changing Weight Loss.

“Research has shown that negative thought patterns are 100 per cent responsible for comfort eating,” says Amanda.

“Simple self-analysis will free you from the thinking that’s behind your expanding waistline.”

So here’s a brain detox that’ll help you beat comfort eating for good.

1. TAKE THE WEIGHT OFF YOUR MIND

Can’t shift the pounds, no matter what you do? It could be because you’re telling your body to hold on to the weight. Loopy as it sounds, you can actually think yourself fat.

“Studies have proven that the mind has the power to make the body believe what it’s told,” explains Sandy. “So if you think you’re doomed to be overweight forever, that’s exactly what you’ll be.”

Time to find out what you’re telling your body – score out of 10 how much you agree with the following statements:

1 I can’t lose weight easily
2 I have a slow metabolism
3 Losing weight requires hard work
4 It’s impossible for me to lose weight
5 I’m this weight naturally

Now look at the statement that you scored most highly. This is the negative thought that’s stopping you losing weight.

2. BEAT THE NEED TO OVEREAT

Finding out about your negative thoughts is the first step. The second is to explore the real reason you comfort eat. Take a few minutes to write down the five things that have most upset you in your life.

“It doesn’t matter what they are – be it a death in the family or being dumped when you were 13 – it’s how you feel about them now that counts,” says Sandy.

1
2
3
4
5

Now, note which event coincided with you first gaining weight. Think about how you felt at the time, then create a simple sentence like: “I felt vulnerable without Grandma,” or “I felt rejected by Steve.” This is the reason why you comfort eat.

3. BREAK THE FLAB HABIT

Now you’ve established the negative thinking that’s holding you back and the events in your past that have led you to overeat, you’re set to kiss comfort eating goodbye forever.

How? “Because by facing up to your emotions, you’re halfway there,” says Sandy. To completely escape negative memories, however, you have to try this five-minute task. task. Fill in the following sentence:

I’m not in control of my eating habits because................................

(fill in with the negative sentence you gave the highest score to in part 1, or a painful memory that you identified triggered your weight gain in part 2).

Read the following sentence aloud, and score how unhappy it makes you feel each time.

I rate my unhappiness about................................ out of 10. But even though I felt like that before, I deeply and completely love and accept myself.

According to Sandy and Amanda, the more times you do it, the lower your grading will be – freeing you from the negative thoughts.

4. START TO THINK THIN

Now it’s time to up the ante on positive thinking by creating the ultimate reminder of just how fantastic you really are!

“The more you love yourself,” says Sandy, “ the more you’ll nourish your body with healthy, low-fat foods. It sounds unlikely but it really is proven!” Use the following suggestions to make a sentence that fits you.

I AM A... a happy, healthy, beautiful, loving, funny, creative, kind, wise... mother, friend, wife, lover, listener, teacher...

I WANT TO BE SOMEONE WHO... loves myself, motivates, gets results, laughs, lives a healthy lifestyle.

Now say it out loud, every day, and be prepared to see your happiness soar, as well as your motivation to get and stay in shape.

READER OFFER!

Life-Changing Weight Loss: Three Steps To Get The Body And Life You Want is out on Thursday (Piatkus, £12.99).
To buy a copy and save £1 off the retail price, plus free p&p, call 01832 737525 and quote PIA022.

Photography: FOLIO-ID, PA Photots, Photolibrary.com, Alamy