From 2007-2009 I was active in the LiveJournal eating disorder community.

I’d log in and post pictures whining about how fat I felt, share my puny daily food intake – 1200 calories or less – and exchange tips and tools with my Internet friends.

I was embarrassed that I didn’t have a diagnosed eating disorder, even though I was throwing up after most meals.

Regardless, I would log in and pour through entries for “thinspiration,” and log out determined to eat less, weigh less, and accomplish more.

Brow furrowed and face tense, I would get to work planning my tiny meals and extensive workout regimens.

Only problem? It wasn’t working.

No matter how little I ate and how much weight I lost, I was never satisfied.

I remember going to lunch at Temptations Cafe in Nyack with my brother, wearing light green size 00 Abercrombie chinos that hung off me and a miniscule white t-shirt with frogs on it from when I was 4 years old.

I still didn’t feel thin enough – and I certainly didn’t feel happy.

I ordered a fruit plate without cheese and panicked inside when it came with cheese on it. I felt crazy.

“What gives?!” I asked myself, frustrated and burned out from eating so little and exhausting so much brain power beating myself up for not having a 22-inch waist.

It wasn’t until years later that I realized stressing and obsessing over your weight is counterintuitive and will always leave you feeling miserable and dissatisfied with your body.

Why? Because it flips on your biological stress response, which blocks weight loss. You probably know a bit about this already if you’ve been hanging out in my corner of the Internet.

I love discussing this subject, and will continue to.

So, what does work if you’re trying to lose weight without counting calories and driving yourself crazy?

Becoming that 4-year-old girl with the frog t-shirt.

The #1 non-diet weight loss tool that’s worked for me and hundreds of others is embodying myself as a baby by stepping into a childlike state of wonder.

I learned variations of this tool from two of my brilliant mentors – Cora Poage and Nisha Moodley.

Yep. By relaxing your eyebrows, unclenching your jaw, and approaching food and life with curiosity and innocence, you’ll relax your body and press the metaphorical “on” button for weight loss – your parasympathetic nervous system, aka “rest and digest” system.

To lose weight effortlessly, you need to live in this state more often than you live in the “fight or flight” state, where your sympathetic nervous system is engaged.

Babies and children have a sense of awe and non-judgment, and a completely intuitive and even irreverent approach to food.

What if this worked for you too?

When you’re physically and mentally relaxed instead of tense, you’re curious about your body’s needs and you naturally make food choices that make you feel light, slim, and calm.

Of course, this is just one piece of the puzzle, but it’s the most important one.

Yes, I give my clients specific foods to eat, supplements to take, movement routines, and lifestyle practices, but this one tactic – embodying your younger self – is the underpinning that makes everything work.

And side note: Yeah, you might eat a bunch of junk when you first start experimenting with this mental frame, but guess what?

Piles of chocolate truffles and potato chips get old fast when you let yourself have as much as you want.

You’ll quickly get a stomachache and naturally crave some vegetables or protein.

Your body knows what to eat when you leave it the heck alone.

Recalibrate and get back to your natural healthy eating patterns by taking on a childlike mindset, relaxing your face and body, and listening closely to your body’s signals.

Instead of trying harder to lose weight, try easier and start listening to your physical needs.

This might sound really weird to you or even stupid and pointless.

But guess what? It’s worked for hundreds of people. Plus, what do you have to lose?

If you’re reading this, I’m guessing you’re sick and tired of diets, calorie counting, and hating your body.

So why not try this simple homework assignment that’s completely changed so many people’s relationship with their bodies?

Do it.

Become your baby self for a week, then come back and tell me how it went in the comments below. Be curious and innocent. Listen to your needs.

I can’t wait to hear from you.

If you’re having trouble stepping into a childlike mindset, try watching a funny movie, dancing to your favorite music, coloring or drawing, journaling through the tension, or meditating to relax your nervous system.

Thank you so much for reading.

Hugs,
Lula