WHY DIETS MAKE YOU CRABBY by Pauline Wallin, Ph.D.

~ While you're trying to ignore the food ads, the "inner brat" in the back of your mind notices every single one. It nags at you: "I want that . . . I must have it." Your inner brat's nagging intensifies the cravings. You become involved in a struggle between short-term gratification (your inner brat) and your long-term goal of losing weight. This, too, takes effort.

~ As the day progresses and you continue to resist old eating habits, your mental strength is gradually depleted. This makes it harder for you to keep the lid on your frustration or control your temper. In other words, your inner brat gets the better of you.

~ It's no coincidence that most people end up overeating later in the day, when their mental strength is at its low point. By this time it seems like too much work to resist, so you give into your cravings.

Is it any wonder that most diets fail? They don't have to. To make sure that your moods don't sabotage your diet, here are some tips:

1. Conserve your mental strength. Be selective in taking on unnecessary stressors.

2. Stick to a routine as much as possible. This reduces the number of decisions you have to make, and thereby saves mental energy.

3. Set up your environment so that you avoid temptation:

~ Don't keep junk food at home or in your desk at work.

~ When food-related TV commercials come on, change the channel.

~ At the grocery store avoid the aisles that hold snack foods.

The less you come in contact with reminders of your old eating habits, the less you will need to draw on your mental strength. In these kinds of situations, the old saying, "out of sight, out of mind" is truly applicable.

4. Watch out for negative self-talk. If you find yourself thinking "This is awful" or "I can't stand this" you will only magnify your bad mood. Instead say to yourself, "OK, so I'm not at my best. Just wait it out for a little while longer."

5. Take responsibility for your mood. If you do get irritable, avoid picking arguments. If necessary, involve yourself in a solitary physical task, away from other people. Your bad mood will pass, you'll keep your inner brat under control, and you'll emerge on the other side with additional strength for tomorrow.

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BIO:

Pauline Wallin, Ph.D. is a psychologist in Camp Hill, PA, and author of "Taming Your Inner Brat: A Guide for Transforming Self-defeating Behavior" (Beyond Words Publishing, 2001)

Visit http://www.innerbrat.com for more information, and subscribe to her free, monthly Inner Brat Newsletter.

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