Here’s the Thing About Buffets.

Buffets are a dieter’s worst nightmare.

Because a dieter is trying to not eat bad food by using her willpower.
There are so many things wrong with that sentence, I can’t even tell you.

OK, I’m going to tell you.

First of all, there is no bad food.

Once you make something a bad food with your mind (making you a badass magician), that’s going to make you want it even more.  There are some foods you don’t want to eat every day, sure, but they’re not “bad”.  Labeling them as bad makes them taboo in an alluring way.  Bad foods become your temptress.  It’s a big, slippery slope of spiraling deprivation.  (Not that I’m overly dramatic.)  Don’t go there.

Second, instead of thinking about what NOT to eat, wouldn’t it be much more pleasurable to think about what you DO want to eat?  Spend your time rolling around the delicious possibilities.  A rich salmon with light steamy quinoa, or a thick smoothie with cocoa and nut butter?  Mmmmm.

Third, if you are fighting your body urges with willpower, you will never win.  You have to use your body’s urges to your advantage, not fight them.  Willpower will not support you long-term.  Use your mind management tools instead.

If you belly up to a buffet with the idea in your mind that you are going to gorge yourself, chances are good that you will

Take a look at your thoughts that have set you up in this no-win situation.  Popular thoughts are, “I deserve to have what I want.”  “It’s only once a year.” “It all looks so good.”  “This will make me feel better.”  “I want to get my money’s worth.”

Instead, how about choosing the thought, “What are going to be my top three choices?”  And then choose to have three bites of each.  After three bites it usually doesn’t taste as good anyway.  Pay attention next time and see if that’s true for you.

Or how about the thought, “What is going to make my body feel good (and healthy) while I get a chance to catch up with all my friends?  I want my best energy to say hi to everyone.”

Buffets are not your enemy. Buffets are neutral.
The thoughts you think about buffets are what get in the way.