Reason #4:  Peace with Food relies on skills, diets on willpower.

What does a professional athlete, accountant, concert pianist, and a plumber all have in common?

One word: skill.

They have learned a set of skills and honed them to become successful in their area of expertise. And how exactly did they hone these skills? They spent considerable time practicing.

There is no way to get around it. If you want to be skilled at something, you have to practice. And living at Peace with Food is no different. If you want to be successful in maintaining your optimal weight, living a life you love, and doing it with peace it will require skills, not willpower.

It’s funny how unskilled we were in this area of Peace with Food when we first began. Back when we started on this journey, our peace was probably a 1 or 2 on a scale of 5. But now, after practicing continually we would have to say that our peace in this area is an 4 or 4.5.  And it is all because we pursued skills and not willpower.

What’s so bad about willpower?  Well, it’s not that it’s bad, per se.  It’s just not the optimal tool for the job. Unlike skills, which bring success, willpower is fickle.  Here today gone tomorrow.  Any one who has any dieting under their belt has most likely experienced the ebb and flow of willpower.  It seems like when you need it most it is MIA.

Unlike willpower, skills will help you live at Peace with Food for life, not just for 16 days, 23 days, or whatever the length of your newest diet (if even that). When you acquire skills such as self-control, making wise choices, and “resetting” right after a mess-up, you will get a much bigger bang for your buck than some temporary surge of willpower.

So, instead of mustering up the willpower to try harder, consider developing skills that will ensure your victory. What skill would help you make a quantum leap in the area of Peace with Food? Start there. As your skill level goes up, so will your success!

Take-Home Message:

Skills will lead to success.