What am I working on making a habit of these days?
Eating more protein with my meals and cutting out adding additional salt and sugar in my foods (meaning I don't add any salt or sugar that it wasn't already cooked with--sugar in tea).
How am I making it a habit and a lifestyle rather than a grudging responsibility?
BABY STEPS! and I mean little-iddy-bitty-baby steps here...and guess what? It's working!
My tips:
- Teach yourself discipline
Or force it down your throat, that works sometimes too.
Make a list of your weaknesses and strengths when it comes to your habit.
I'm a weakling when it comes to:
- Steamed veggies (yuck!)
- black tea
What pushes me?
- too lazy to get up (to get the salt) once I sit down at the dinner table {big plus for me!}--ok, confession is that I don't make steamed veggies myself- I prefer them raw..no salt needed, BUT...when I eat out, the first thing I do before I get my meal is place the salt shaker out of reach! Works like a charm.
- milk in my tea--instant sweetness plus calcium! yum!
Writing down what you have going with and against you (even the little things matter!) can help you actualize your goals by boosting your motivation/realizing your limitations in order to cut down on those that are keeping you back and pushing forward with the things keeping you afloat. - Conquer your fear of the unknown
We all fear failure. That one little thing that will set us off coasting in a backwards direction towards our previous state.
Here is where I can't stress baby steps enough. It's important to allow yourself to ease into a new habit rather than forcing it down your own throat.
Tip within a tip: Find friends with the same goals and write down what your successes and set-backs have been, PLUS how you have overcome them. Swap stories and keep them close so you can re-inspire yourself in dire times.
I have a carbohydrate weakness...I tend to go to the grocery store and load up on baguettes, pastas and rice.
My solution: LIST. I make a list of what things I will need to accomplish my protein requirements this week, and go at it. - Break often
Confession: I still eat pasta, and bread, quite a bit. BUT I top it with chicken or eggs now.
Breaks are necessary. Jump in head first and you're bound to get burned.
Instead, set aside specifics to realizing your goals. For me, I have set myself on eating one protein product in each of my 3 main meals. It should be enough to sustain me to the next meal and prevent bingeing on those chocolate covered whatevers at work that cause afternoon-lethargy! - Put it on your to-do list
My main purpose for this goal is to help me feel more energized and keep my ticker in good shape for the long haul.
First thing in the am, work your schedule around whatever your steps towards your goal may be. If its a work-out routine, plan your day before and after that. Plan your meals first thing in the morning so that you're not scrounging around for whatever suits your fancy at the last minute. Make sense?
What are you working towards these days? Are you consciously aware of your choice to work on it or do you just apply it whenever it seems convenient for you (that's what I used to do and realized it didn't work much for me)? I'd love to hear what you guys got brewing!!
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10 comments:
Ahh, a post after my own heart! You know I'm all about the eensy, teensy steps. :)
My current "project" is drinking more water. I've made progress, but I have a long way to go until I can consider it a lifestyle step I've conquered. But we keep chipping, right?
Just do it :-)
I'm always amazed by the reasons people come up with for not doing something that would be good for them! Of course, my reasons are much more logical :-)
Keep me on task, Rupal!
The salt used to be a real killer. I remember grabbing for it when I was at a diner back in the day. I started to shake it on the eggs and hash browns that arrived until my girl (now my wife) said "why are you doing that?" "How can you salt something without even knowing if it needed it or not"? DUH, Light bulb went off and I stopped it right there. Haven't had extra salt added for over 20 years.
So true, love that movie What About Bob, remember baby steps to the elevator...lol. Baby Steps may be a a sort of cliche, but it sure works.
Cammy-- we sure do, we sure do!
Dr J-- agreed!
Tom-- TOTALLY! My husband does that too, I get on him!
kristi-- that was a funny movie!
~rupal
Reading this has got me INSPIRED!
I'm all for planning meals the night before, though ;)
I always have a list as I plan dinners two weeks in advance. I'm pretty good about sticking to it and also forgetting part of it - I don't know why I forget things ON THE LIST. It happens every time even though I try to be more conscious of my failing.
I never liked a lot of sweet and since being more conscious of sugar in foods, I like it even less. Many foods have too much sugar in them for me. I am a confessed saltaholic. I worked at reducing sodium and consider it a success when I see Husband, who is not a saltaholic, salting his food when I'm not. That still amazes me. It took awhile to get there.
The key is not to push too hard and go in baby steps, like you say.
I, too, have upped protein lately. I'm looking for an alternative to protein bars, if you have any suggestions. In general, so far, they are all too icky sweet for my tastes. Maybe I should look into the powders and making a shake or something instead. Hmmm ... I'll think of something.
antgirl-- I'm all about peanut butter and almond butter right now, with oatmeal or a piece of toast..mmm
~rupal
Great tips here!
really great post, i like your blog :)
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