I want to eat clean but I love sweets. I want to eat clean but everyone else at home/work doesn't. I want to eat clean but healthy food tastes bad. Lastly, what once was my own personal BUT, I want to eat clean but I love wine!
Why Is It So Hard?!
All of those things are road blocks that are keeping you from reaching your goals. They sound so simple yet so many people struggle with this on a daily basis. We have been eating a certain way our whole lives. When we decide to make a change it can be hard. Its an adjustment like any other. If you can implement a change and keep it consistent, over time it will become a part of what you do without it being such a big deal.
Self discipline is a habit, just like going to the gym or making your bed everyday. The more you do it the more it becomes a natural part of your life. To implement self discipline I look at it like this: Each time you are tempted it's like a small battle, and each time you do not give into temptation is a small victory. After each victory you become stronger and stronger until, eventually, you are no longer tempted- you've won the war. There are tons of temptations at my office: candy, wine, cake, pies, girl scout cookies, ice cream, soda, ANY kind of snack you can think of. I can go on. It used to be hard for me to say no to these things ever day, particularly the peanut M&M jar. One day i decided I was done. At first it was hard but each time I reminded myself that my goals are more important than the temporary taste of M&Ms. Each time I just said no to sticking my hand it that jar it became easier and easier, until one day I didn't even notice it anymore! SUCCESS! I applied this same practice to sweets in general and I never crave them anymore.
Eating clean can be hard when everyone around you continues to eat the same way you used to eat before you decided to eat clean. If you want to start making changes to eat healthier, do it for YOU. Don't wait on others around you to do the same. If you do, that means you are relying on others to reach a goal you set for yourself! You should want to eat healthy regardless of what everyone else around you is doing. If you commit with friends/family members that is great, just keep in mind that ultimately this is for you, and if they slip up, you stay strong. If you have one particular thing in your house that you have a strong weakness for and you have tried everything and can't seem muster up the discipline to pass on that "thing" get rid of it! This is why you will rarely find any peanut butter in my place, pretty sure I could eat the whole jar in two days. If you have to rid your household of something that your family members/roommates eat, explain to them how important your goal is and by keeping that "thing" out of the house will help you reach that goal. They should be supportive and understanding. Now, I'm not saying to go home and clear out the fridge and pantry! Just one thing that you struggle with the most. Does this mean you can NEVER have that thing? Not at all. For me, I loved drinking wine but that is something that was hard for me to keep in moderation. When out with friends it was hard to turn down drinks when everyone else was ordering more. I decided to remove myself from those type of situations because I knew how it would end up. After a while of ridding those things from my life and reaching my goal, I am now able to enjoy a glass of wine after work with a friend or at dinner from time to time if I know I have been maintaining my goals. After all this is a lifestyle and you have to find your balance. Keeping those things in moderation shouldn't inhibit you if you don't abuse it.
When it comes to the types of foods you eat while eating clean, some people think you have to eat plain chicken/veggies/rice all day everyday. This is definitely not true. With all of the resources we have now there are plenty of places you can find great recipes: Google, social media, blogs, there are also some really great healthy food apps you can download right to your phone! There are also plenty of alternatives to the unhealthier things that you love which you can also find using the same resources. Have your cake and eat it too- using protein powder/egg whites/fat free ingredients (just a random example).
Stay focused on your self discipline by always keep your goals in mind. Print out a picture of something that symbolizes your goal. This image could be a quote that inspires you, a picture of a bikini or a beach, or of your kids that you hope to set the best example for. Put it in a place of weakness, at your office, on the fridge, in your pantry. Applying self discipline daily to something you struggle with is hard at first. If you feel overwhelmed, it may be best for you to start practicing with one small thing. once you master that you can move onto another. Be a better you each day by slowly changing your habits until you are the self discipline champion!
Change can be hard, but necessary. My best friend Amanda always quotes, "Nothing changes if nothing changes." Time to add self discipline to one of your muscle groups that you exercise, as many reps you can do, everyday.
Live WELL
<3 Jess
"For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline."
2 Timothy 1:7
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