Let's admit it...we usually have the best of intentions but not always are we successful with the follow through. We decide to start working out, being kinder to our bodies, change our diet, change our selves and how the world sees us - but it is almost never a straight path. We allow stressors and the demands of others to supercede our best intentions for ourselves.
I think the hardest thing for some of us, is to take care of our own needs first. It sounds selfish at first, but let's contemplate on why this must be. In not doing so, we undermine our best efforts and often begin to feel that we just can't manage it and we give up. This is why our mottos should be that we cannot take care of others if we are not taking care of ourselves. There are so many needs in the world, that if you do nothing but give and give nothing to yourself first, eventually you will have nothing left. When that happens, consequently you cannot be of help to anyone. Do you ever have the feeling that you are essentially an intravenous bag, draining out for the betterment of everyone else? That should be an indicator that your "supply" is dangerously low and it is high time for the physician to "heal thyself."
So what do you give yourself? Healthy lifestyle changes that will support not only yourself but will support you in holding up the weight of the world you found had always usurped you before! These things you must do for YOU.
Keep in mind that forming new habits rarely happens overnight. In fact, according to a study reported in "World of Psychology" the average is 66 days, with some habits forming as early as only 18 days...SO - let's start with the short term and work up from there! Make a decision to makes your changes happen everyday for 18 days; consider it a cleansing period. During this time you will purge the detrimental lifestyle habits from your life, and embrace those healthful lifestyle changes that you do want. If you fail one day, dust yourself off and pick up from there. Research has shown that habits will still take hold. At the end of that 18 days, assess yourself and move forward with your new healthy lifestyle.
Here are some tips to help you stay on track:
1) Once you have made your decision, write it down - make a contract with the self that you will feel obligated to uphold as in having made a solemn promise. Then back this contract up with a written daily record of what you have done/not done toward your goal(s). This can be in the form of a food journal, an exercise diary, whatever form of documenting that will make you accountable on a daily basis. One new form of accountability is to post your progress on your social media page - make it your own personal fan page as you progress!
2) Know the benefits - make note of what good these lifestyle changes are doing for YOU. Realize how differently you feel, in your mind, body, and soul. If weightloss is a goal, don't use the scale so much as use a camera - take a picture of yourself once a week and begin to notice the subtle changes as they occur in you.
3) Recognize the pain anytime you revert to old detrimental habits. Assess your feelings - physical, emotional and spiritual on how this makes you feel. I am not suggesting a guilt trip - not by any means. I am recommending that you take a step back and really assess on all level how you feel and what your body's responses are. How does it make your body feel - does it run better or worse? Does any part of you react negatively or positively? Did indulging result in a let down - was it not as good to you as you had remembered it being? Once you have assessed these things, you will feel better about finally letting these things go, and go for good.
There will always be temptations. If you have come to the decision that you need to live a gluten-free life, there will always be pizza, cookies, breads, etc around you. There are alternatives, and thankfully gluten free choices are coming into the mainstream! However, we tend to talk ourselves into believing that things we had in the past were so much better than they truly are, and instead, we make poor choices and opt for a standard product - if this happens to you, note how truly satisfying or not it was for you, your body's reaction(s) to it, and you'll be able to make better choices for yourself in the future and those changes will stick the next time with the knowledge that the gluten free product not only satisfies you, but leaves you feeling so much better.
These tips can be applied with so many lifestyle changes and challenges - I hope they will help bring you into your optimum health!
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