So this week I want to talk about soft furnishings…mainly cushions!

You may know by now that I don’t often refer to weight loss, or use it as the main measure of success, but I am aware of how important it is to a lot of people. (Thank you dieting industry for that conditioning!)

I equate 7lb of body weight as a ‘cushion’. I don’t know why, I just have done for years. It feels easier than saying I want to lose 2 stone…I say 4 cushions. It just feels more doable, and kinder to myself somehow.

I think because it helps people stop obsessing over single numbers and instead think in gentler ranges.

Now you may only want to lose 1 cushion, or 4 cushions, or you may be perfectly happy with the amount of cushions you have on your ‘sofa’ at the moment.

The great thing about to referring to your weight loss goal as cushions is that it takes away the focus on an exact number.

Just think, we have spent a lot of our adult life…thinking we should be, or desiring to be a single number on the scales…another gift from the dieting industry.

It’s a nonsense!

If we go just a bit over that number, we see it as failure, as a bad thing, then that can put us dangerously near to pressing that ‘fuck it button’ (thanks again dieting)

Whereas focusing on a range of 7lb, a cushion, gives us a lot more leeway. So you may be hormonal, constipated, dehydrated or just enjoyed a bloody amazing weekend away with your friends…and you can still remain within your cushion…so the ‘Fuck it button’ stays away…and normal life resumes.

You can of course chose to say goodbye to a cushion, throw it away because you no longer need or want it…then you start the whole process again with the next cushion. Getting rid of a cushion, could take just a few weeks, or months, depending on your choices and desires.

Just to point out that you can also gain cushions at that same rate too!

I find it fascinating that when I am hovering around the top of a cushion, I tend to make choices that will put me firmly back into the middle of it for a few days, because I like a bit of leeway.

If I do want to get rid of a cushion…then I make those choices more often and for longer periods.

The fact is, I know i always have the control to choose.

I hope this is all making sense!

The reason I am telling you this now is that I usually put on a Christmas Cushion…maybe not a full one…but I happily go over my existing cushion…simply because I eat more and more often..and it’s worth every bit of that new cushion.

However, the choices I make NOW, leading up to Christmas can actually stop that from happening.

So that means in just 3 weeks, I can in-fact reduce my existing cushion somewhat…to make room for it to reinflate over Christmas..without having to buy an unwanted extra cushion

Operation Christmas Cushion!

It really is that straightforward…make choices to lose a little now…to give you that bit of extra space to enjoy the choices over Christmas.

I know this works, because I have done it for the last few years, and it really is worth the effort. It means you end the year in a similar position than you are now.

Now I am not advocating crash dieting or cracking open the Slimfast shakes (That is what I used to do out of desperation)…I am talking about the small daily changes…

• Drinking enough water
• Walking
• Going to bed at a decent hour
• Saying no to that mince pie at the office every day
• Not picking at the Christmas chocolates before Christmas
• Being more active throughout the day…yes that takes effort!
• Not opening the second bottle of wine
• Not having sugar mid week
• Not eating late at night
• Choosing not to have the biscuits with the tea or coffee
• Making your own meal rather than the takeaway
• Swapping heavily buttered toast for a homemade yoghurt fruit and seed chia pot

These are just some suggestions, a lot of what I already do. Each one of these choices really does make a difference…and they ALL ADD UP to help create that calorie deficit naturally.

After Mondays Tribe live a lot of them are starting Operation Christmas Cushion this week…and it feels great to actively make good choices for yourself…it becomes addictive because it makes you feel chuffed…then you want more of it, so no willpower needed.

Give it a try and see!