• Mail

Vibrance Nutrition and Fitness

  • Programs
    • Programs and Services
    • Fitness
    • Individualized Coaching
    • Online Programs
    • Business Coaching
    • Testimonials
  • Blog
  • Free!
    • Recipes
    • Newsletter Archive
    • Video
    • My Favorite Things
  • About
  • Contact

Blog - Latest News

You are here: Home » Primary Food » What’s Your Sabotaging Persona?

What’s Your Sabotaging Persona?

April 28, 2014
April 28, 2014

We all have things which trip us up and set us off course from our goals. The most common difference between those who succeed and those who do not is simply that the successful ones pick themselves up and keep going. They do not allow a set-back or self-sabotage permanently derail them. When things are not working they keep hunting for the answers, spending as much time inward as outward finding solutions to their challenges.

An effective way to cease self-loathing and blame when slipping up is to identify and be on the lookout for your sabotaging personality. What are the situations or thoughts that precede a slip up? Below are some common sabotaging personas. Identify yours and begin to see this persona not as who you are, but an aspect of you that seeks to get a need met through food, excessive Facebooking, avoiding exercise, etc. This persona is just misguided and doing its best. It’s your job not to let it continue to call the shots and run your life, just as you wouldn’t let an 8 year old boy run the family household.

Below are some of the most common personas that show up in our clients. Do any of them sound familiar to you?

perfectionism


The Black and White Persona
(aka – the Perfectionist): “I don’t have time for 30 minutes, so I don’t have time at all…” “I had that handful of M+Ms at lunch and blew it, I might as well have XYZ”, “I’m scheduled to lose a pound a week and I’ve only lost ¼ pound this week; this isn’t working.” “I’ve lost 20 pounds, but all I see is the last 10 I haven’t gotten rid of” The Perfectionist is NOTORIOUS for expecting things to be a certain way. If they aren’t, well, F-it! This persona needs to be reminded that life does not progress in a linear fashion, and life never turns out exactly as we expect. Letting go of the tight grip of control allows this persona to relax and enjoy more of life, develop a greater sense of trust in oneself, and prevent or eliminate ulcers. This persona needs it hammered in that in life, progress, not perfection, is the goal. Perfection is a myth in the realm of unicorns and leprechauns. If you can only fit in 15 minutes of intervals, go as hard as you can for those 15 minutes and be proud of yourself for getting 15 minutes more than the Perfectionist would have given you! If you have a dietary slip up, let it be history and make a better choice the next time you pick up your fork.


Untitled design (1)The Victim
– “my kids left it on their plate”, “in-laws were in town”, “there was nothing else in the house”, “it’s so hard” … this person always has a reason why someone or something has gotten in the way of his or her efforts. The reality is there can always be a reason NOT to – to combat this persona you need to start listing the reasons why you CHOOSE TO. This persona wants to avoid the burden of responsibility. By playing the victim card, he or she has all the reasons why it just isn’t going to work. Exploring the fear of responsibility and what that means to this persona as well as staying deeply connected to the reasons WHY you WANT TO take responsibility for your health, happiness, and your life are needed to put this persona in its place.VerucaSalt


The Self-Entitled
– you know this persona is present when you hear the words “I deserve it”. Somewhere in this person’s life food became the prize for a job well done, the consolation prize for a bad day or just because she feels like it! Often times all this persona needs is to think of other things which are also special, decadent, and just as rewarding as a plate of pasta or dessert. These will be things you typically do not do for yourself because they are just a little too decadent – fresh flowers from the farmer’s market, a massage, a weekend afternoon in bed with a good book, refusing to check email or voicemail for a set period of time, a manicure, or a bottle of ridiculously expensive, imported aged vinegar for your fat-loss friendly salads are some ideas to get you started. It will be important to examine what this persona is really looking for as the Self-Entitled is the one most likely to subversively create problems by transferring food treats to clothing treats or other consumables which can lead to financial problems down the road (if this is one of your saboteurs, you may notice that she pops up as a ‘retail therapist’ already!)

The People-Pleaser – this persona eats Grandma’s cookie so she won’t be upset, gets injured by signing up for a race that his buddies are doing even though he knows he’s not prepared, gives in and gets another glass of wine or an appetizer because others at the table are doing so, uses the kids as a reason to keep trigger foods in the house, or finds herself in front of the fridge after a confrontation or argument where she felt unable to express what she really wanted to say. Food can be an excellent means of ‘shutting oneself up’ to keep the peace and in many families the acceptance of desserts, second portions, and food in general is synonymous with acceptance of the preparer’s love. Combating this persona requires a commitment to staying connected to oneself in social situations and starting to test the belief that others will be upset if you stay true to your needs and desires. Start with the easiest situations (work functions and parties, for instance) and work your way towards more challenging scenarios as you experience success.

The Hider – this persona finds all the reasons to stay small, unknown, and unseen. It stays in the dead end job where you remain unappreciated, says “It’s too late, I can’t, “It won’t hiding kittenwork anyway” when considering breaking out and doing something new and exciting. In relation to food, the Hider eats when you get ‘too thin’ … feels exposed as the weight comes off, even while feeling more confident. At it’s root it’s afraid of unwanted sexual advances or attention, of being seen or appreciated for the ‘thin’ self; afraid of success and what that means. This persona needs a lot of compassion and love to release the fear associated with successful fat loss. If sexual or emotional trauma is at the root of this persona’s action, receiving professional counseling is highly recommended. Other barriers to welcoming success can be talked through with a life or health coach, through self-improvement books, and journaling and self-examination.

Which persona do you most identify with? Many people have more than one! Keep on the lookout for the situations and places these personas show up to learn more about how they operate so you can find ways to discourage their impulses and behaviors. As they say, “Keep your friends close, and your sabotaging personas closer.” 🙂

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
0 Comments/in Primary Food, Weight Loss /by Aimee Gallo, Vibrance Nutrition
0 replies

Leave a Reply

Want to join the discussion?
Feel free to contribute!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Followon Twitter

Recent Comments

  • Aimee Gallo, Vibrance Nutrition on Blasphemous Thoughts on Sports Nutrition
  • Aimee Gallo, Vibrance Nutrition on Spiced Sweet Potato Hash Browns
  • Lizzy on Blasphemous Thoughts on Sports Nutrition
  • flower7 on Noodles in Nut Sauce
  • winkki on Noodles in Nut Sauce

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries RSS
  • Comments RSS
  • WordPress.org
← Recipe of the Moment: Lemon Tahini Dressing of YumYumz (previous entry)
(next entry) The 5 Supplements Everyone Should Be Taking →

Site Map

  • About
    • What is Functional Nutrition?
  • Blog
    • Take this Quiz: How Healthy Am I?
    • Tasty Sunshine Inspired Recipes!
  • Contact Us
    • Looking For an Inspiring Podcast Guest? Let’s Chat!
  • 30 Days to Glorious Greens Cookbook
  • 5 Ways To 5 a Day
  • A Few of My Favorite Things
  • About Aimee
  • Are You Getting Enough Vegetables?
  • Are You Sure You Want to Cancel?
  • Contact
  • Examine Your Poops: The Bristol Stool Chart
  • FAQ about Own Your Vibrance
  • Fitness
  • Glorious Goodies for You!
  • Holistic Business Coaching
  • Individualized Coaching
  • Newsletter Archive
  • Online Programs
    • 10 Weeks to a Healthier You!
    • 30 Day of Glorious Greens Challenge
      • Thank You for Believing in Greens!
    • 30 Days to Conquer Cravings
    • I’m thrilled you are joining the Daily Greens Challenge!
    • The Lean Living Lifestyle Program
    • Vibrant Veggies: A New Program offered by VIBRANCE.
    • You’re In!
  • Programs and Services
    • Congratulations!
    • OWN Your VIBRANCE!
  • Reasons You Aren’t Losing Weight.
  • Recipes
  • Testimonials
  • Vibrance Nutrition and Fitness Privacy Policy
  • Video

search

blog by topic

A Vibrant Life

I've studied nutrition and fitness from a variety of experts for over 20 years. In this time I've come to understand that no diet, nor exercise plan, is right for every body. Your body has a unique set of needs, and by listening and exploring, you and I can learn the language of your body and begin giving it what it needs, so that greater energy, vibrancy, health and happiness can be yours!

A healthy body is a platform for an abundant, vibrant life. It's all yours for the taking. Are you ready for it?

-Aimee

contact

Aimee Gallo
Seattle: (206) 227-1231
aimee@vibrance.dev
© Copyright - Vibrance Nutrition and Fitness - Wordpress Premium Theme by Kriesi