No matter what you have resolved to do (or not do)
in 2008, one of the most challenging hurdles you
are likely to face is: your habits.
Habits can be good or bad. They can work for you
or against you.
The problem with the bad ones is that they often
work below the surface, subconsciously. They kick
in without our knowledge.
Or, you may be aware of your bad habit. But you
allow that habit to dictate your actions or
thoughts. It's like you know you shouldn't, but
the habit is so ingrained you can't stop yourself.
This is true in every area of your life.
Love life, exercise program, diet, how you
approach your work. Habits make you. They're
like shortcuts that help you get more done
without having to think about it.
But habits can also break you. Think about
the last time you ate junk food to help
soothe the stress or inner yearnings.
Or think about the automatic reaction you
have to someone who gets on your nerves, or
to a situation you feel uncomfortable in.
Even when you want to stop, want to break
the cycle, you may find yourself spiraling
down into the same old reaction...and getting
the same old (usually negative) results.
Well, one of the best ways I've found to
break bad habits...is to replace them with
good habits.
You see, when you remove something from your
life, you create a vacuum. And that vacuum
must be filled - hopefully with something
better.
When you try to get rid of a bad habit -
like eating junk food every day - you need
to replace it with something more positive
and constructive.
Fill the vacuum. Fill the hole. Otherwise
that bad habit is guaranteed to come
storming back.
So, if you have decided that you are ready
to eat cleaner and get rid of the junk food,
replace the junk in your diet with clean
foods.
Instead of the donut for breakfast,have a
protein shake and some whole wheat toast.
Instead of the fries with your lunch, eat
an apple instead.
Instead of the candy bar for snack time,
eat a protein bar instead.
Instead of the ice cream at midnight, have
a bowl of yogurt with some walnuts and a
little honey.
You get the picture.
It's like this. Eating and diet is a lot like
love and relationships.
When you break up with someone, or that
person breaks up with you, you may wallow
in self pity for a few days or weeks.
But fairly soon, you realize that you have
to fill the time and energy once devoted
to that someone with something else.
Hopefully, this means you take up some
hobby or other endeavour that you enjoy and
that is good for you. Or you spend more
time with friends doing fun stuff.
Before you know it, you are living life on
your own terms again.
Yes, you still feel the tug of the old
relationship, and you still miss him or her.
But you're no longer hampered by a relationship
that may not have been the best one for you.
And you are moving on to bigger and better
things.
So, anytime you are trying to make a change
in your eating habits, pick one habit you
know or suspect is causing you the most problems.
And replace this habit with one that is more
constructive.
Does this mean you have to be perfect, that you
will never regress. Of course not.
If you are missing your ice cream at midnight,
don't say never. Allow yourself to eat ice
cream at midnight once in awhile.
Just make sure that your normal modus operandi -
or your habit - is to NOT eat ice cream
at midnight. You eat some yogurt or fruit instead.
I'll wager that, when you do allow yourself
this illicit pleasure, you will enjoy it even
more than when it was a habit.
You know, in the "Fire Up Your Metabolism"
Program, I give you all kinds of information and
strategies to help you eat better- without
depriving yourself.
Along with the fat burning, energy stoking
exercises in the program, I also lay out a
commonsense nutrition plan (notice I avoid using
the word diet) that will help you quickly and
fairly painlessly get the junk out of your diet,
and replace it with the stuff that's good for you.
Think how good it would feel to finally be
in control of your eating...to finally reach
the ideal weight for you...to finally have that
energy and zest for life back. It could change
your life for the better, couldn't it?
If you'd like to learn more about the "Fire Up
Your Metabolism Program", visit
http://www.overcomeasthma.com/metabolism.html
and see for yourself if it sounds like it's
for you.
You Can Do It!
Karen Van Ness
http://www.OvercomeAsthma.com
P.S. If you're not in shape and have resolved to
get in shape this year, get started the sensible
way by getting a copy of the "Fire Up Your Metabolism"
Program. If you’re ready to taste success in 2008 and
achieve the weight loss you’ve been dreaming of...this
program will give you the jumpstart you need. Get your
copy today at http://www.overcomeasthma.com/metabolism.html.
Copyright, KVN Enterprises, Inc. 2008
**The contents of this daily email are not to be considered
as medical advice. Always consult a physician before
beginning or changing any health or fitness regimen.**
