Creating a Healthy Mindset

Day 111

I am consistently bombarded with opportunities to sabatoge myself. The act of driving down the road takes me through a sea of fast food signs. The grocery store is teeming with unhealthy Driving down the road it may seem sometimes like we are navigating through a sea of fast food signs and advertisements. The grocery store is equally as daunting with an abundance of unhealthy foods and eye catching packaging drawing us right to them.  Add to this the doughnut filled break room at work, cocktails with friends or take out when you're too tired to cook and it's easy to see how a healthy mindset can quickly and easily become derailed.

We are human. It's not a matter of IF we are tempted but WHEN we are tempted. The good news is we also have a great deal of power to make the right decisions each and every day. No one said it was easy to say no to all of the temptations that life can present. Frankly, I think that sounds like a crappy proposition. But, we can exercise moderation. And, we can create a healthy mindset and environment for ourselves that sets us up for success and not failure.

 

There are so many simple things that you can do to create a healthy mindset, and I’m going to share a few of my favorites.

 

1. Get a subscription to one or two to healthy magazines. Some of my favorites are Oxygen, Clean Eating, Cooking Light and Shape. This provides me with a constant stream of fresh new health related tidbits that I can read anytime I feel tempted to sit on the couch and eat potato chips. The pictures in them are great motivators in and of themselves! The trick here is NOT to look at the magazines while eating potato chips.
2. Find a picture of the body that you aspire to have. Visualization is key to reaching goals, and before you start saying…”I’ll never have that body,” stop yourself, because yes you CAN have that body! You have to have a picture of where you want to go if you ever want to get there, and you have to believe in your ability to do it!
3. Post your goals! I know it’s easy to get sidetracked. This is why I find it necessary to read them often.
4. Inspire yourself with words of wisdom. Never underestimate the power of a good quote or scripture! This works much like having goal pictures around, but they can tug at your heart strings a little bit more and steer you in the right direction when you need the extra motivation most. Be creative and find ones that get you fired up!
5. Keep a record of your journey either on paper or online. This is very eye opening for anyone who has never done it. Not only will it help you to see where you have room for improvement, it will also help you to see your progress as you fine tune what works for you in regard to your eating and exercise plan.  

While these things may seem almost too simple at first, once you try using these little tricks, you might be surprised at just how powerful they are and how much they can and WILL help you succeed! Think of them as the “little angels on your shoulder” that help you to make the right decisions when you need a push in the right direction the most!

 

I know they help me. I hope they help you too.

Cheers!
Margaret