How do we one persuade ourselves
to change our behavior
when we don't feel like it?

This is a tough one.

It helps to notice how we talk to ourselves.
Do we give ourselves commands?

It can help to stop giving ourselves orders.
Instead work to be specific about what's to be done and why,
and to turn one's attention to why eating appropriately is important.

Change the self-command to a self-request.
Work to keep the reasons "why" at the front of the mind.

It helps to back up our self-requests with solid reasons.
Add the word "because" to the request.

If your mind says…"You shouldn't snack"
add a reason like…" because you'll regret it later",
or…"because you're still going to want to eat a full dinner",
or…"because snacking is going to lead to weight gain which will make your back ache more"

Be specific about the behavior you need to do,
and turn your attention to your reasons for it.
Keep these reasons at the front of your mind,
and don't let them slip out of awareness.

WIll this help?
Sometimes.  

This morning I posted a new Diet Wisdom video,

Bodyweight Percenages  

which is located at DietHobby, under DIET WISDOM,  Basics.
 

 Following that saying in the video above isn't always easy,
but it's something to work toward. 

Resentment thrives when we're not willing
to end a disagreement or overlook a slight
by putting forth an offering of kindness, love and forgiveness.

It's often hard to disregard the ego's need to be right,
and to extend kindness by letting go of anger.
But, each one of us can be the one seeking a way to give,
rather than the one looking for something to get.

Regardless of what others around us are doing,
ultimately, we'll feel better if we let go of resentments,
and extend love to the others around us.

                   
Rigid thinking, or all-or-nothing thinking
is when you think you're either perfect or a failure,
fantastic, or a loser, on a diet or off a diet.

An example of rigid thinking
with regards to our eating behaviors is:
"What the heck, I've ruined it anyway".

This is the thinking that causes us
to throw all caution to the wind,
and choose to eat whatever, whenever,
and however much we like.

While telling ourselves we'll start again,
…maybe even on a new and different diet plan...
later, tomorrow, or perhaps on Monday,
or perhaps at the beginning of next month.

When the winds blow, a willow sways with them,
while an oak remains still
When a powerful wind comes along,
the willow can bend with the wind and survive it,
but the oak cannot bend,
and so if the wind is strong enough, it will break.

When our thoughts are rigid, just like a stiff tree,
we can easily break. "There goes my diet for today"
Contrast that to an open and flexible attitude,
a middle way, a grey area, which is the place
between eating the whole thing or nothing.

This middle way is: "it's not completely ruined".
The best way to keep ourselves from giving up
when we've taken a misstep,
is to draw our awareness to that middle way,
and be flexible in our thinking.
A partial failure is not a total failure.

If I spilled a bit of food onto a favorite dress I was wearing,
taking care of that mishap right away,
as soon as possible, could salvage my dress.

But if I think "Well, it's ruined anyway",
I'm less likely to get the stain out before it sets.
Even with that rigid mindset.
.......with regards to the spilt food misstep,..... 
I'd be unlikely  to react by choosing to immediately
dump the rest of my plate's contents on my dress.

This ia  picture of one serving of food from my new cooking video,
Roasted Chicken Thighs
which is located at DietHobby, under RECIPES,  Mealtime.

This is my most recent "Ask Grandma" video,
which was made for my DietHobby, youtube channel,
however I'm also featuring it here, because
depression is very relevant in matters of 
weight-loss and weight-maintenance. 

Being fat tends to feel depressing. 
Feeling depressed encourages us to make
bad diet and exercise choices,
even though better eating choices,
and exercise can help to raise depressed feelings.

We can't make ourselves happy every minute,
but there are things we can do to manage depression.