February 2021

Resisting Temptation and Staying Focused on Your Journey

Staying focused on your health journey can be genuinely challenging, especially when your body is used to eating whatever it craves. But learning to navigate temptation is one of the most empowering steps toward feeling your best.

The good news? It's a skill, not a superpower. Here are some practical strategies to help you stay on track, without the guilt.

10 Ways to Stay Focused

1. Own your journey. It's yours, so don't worry about what others say about your food or drink choices.

2. Never leave home hungry and unprepared. A little planning saves you from grabbing whatever's closest when hunger strikes.

3. Remember, most people aren't watching. People are generally far too busy thinking about themselves to notice your choices, especially if you're not making a big deal of them.

4. Travel with backup. Don't head out without supportive foods and fluids unless you're certain you can get what you need where you're going.

5. Practise your "no thank you." Have a polite, ready response so you're never caught off guard.

6. Go where the love is. Spend your time where you feel supported, and steer clear of unnecessary judgment, comments or criticism.

7. If you're going to indulge, make it worth it. Don't "spend" a treat on food you only like, save it for something you genuinely love.

8. When you slip, get straight back up. Don't wait until "next Monday" to start again. One off-plan meal is just that, one meal.

9. Have your alternatives ready. Map out healthy swaps for the things that trip you up, and know where to find them or how to make them yourself.

10. Set your personal rules. These are the things you're simply unbending on. Start with two, and once they're second nature, add more.

My Personal Rules (As an Example)

Here are a few of mine, to show you what I mean:

"I don't eat deep-fried food." Not because I don't like it, I just don't love it enough to want to work it off later.
"I have two glasses of wine per week." If I have one on a Monday, I have to remember that come Friday, I've only got one left in the bank!
"I don't eat out on weeknights unless it's a special occasion." A mid-week dinner out is always forgotten by the weekend, but the extra calories still count.

The beauty of personal rules is that they take the decision-making out of the moment. You're not agonising over every choice, you already know where you stand.