Why Losing Weight Is Not About Willpower
A lot of times when we want to lose weight or make a change to our diets and bodies, we follow a strict plan that has a list of “off-limit” foods and specific rules that require us to tough it out and use our will power to keep going and see success.
The problem is, willpower is only so strong and only gets us so far.
Inevitably, we “slip up” or give into temptations, not to mention our willpower gets easily depleted from stress, distractions, and daily decisions.
The answer ISN’T to try harder.
That approach will only set you up to fail and feel frustrated.
Instead, you need to set yourself up for success by planning ahead and being prepared, but in simple and easy ways that don’t feel more stressful than helpful.
It’s important to do the simple things that make it easy to make healthy choices, even when you don’t have the time or energy. Below are few habits that can help set you up for success:
Make sure to get all the groceries you need to have a stocked and healthy kitchen every week, and set an extra day to restock your key foods that might not last, like fresh produce.
Keep it easy and simple by buying certain fruits and veggies pre-chopped, prepped and/or frozen so that you don’t have any obstacles stopping you from eating them and they’re readily available when you want them.
Utilize a shopping app, like Instacart to place your order on your phone and have someone esle shop it for you, saving you time and energy… and probably money because I always get more when I go in person :).
Get pre-portioned snacks, so that you have grab and go options and also don’t over eat those snacks that are normally in a large package.
Put your workout schedule into your calendar so that you carve out designated time to move your body, which will help you better commit and stick to it.
Choose workouts and simple habits that you enjoy and can reasonably commit to so that it’s also more realistic and therefore sustainable. Here are some low-lift weight loss ideas you could always choose from.
Use a larger water bottle so you only have to fill it up once for the first part of your day, and leave it wherever you spend most of your day, whether that’s at your desk, in your car or in your kid’s stroller.
Give yourself permission to enjoy less nutritious and “unhealthy” foods so that they’re not off limits and therefore not as enticing.
Try out some of these ideas to see if they help you stay committed with more ease on your health and weight loss journey, and share below if there are any other habits you find helpful!
