You just started your healthy journey. You’ve been rocking your exercise, sticking to your meal plan and feeling great when…the inevitable happens. They kids are insane and on your last nerve. Everything is a battle and you are spent. You look at the dinner options with no energy left.
I am too tired for this. I do not want to cook.
So, you don’t. Within seconds, you are on your phone, clicking in your order for pizza and before you know it, it’s too late. The pizza is ordered and you are home free. Then, as you are waiting, you remember that pizza wasn’t on your meal plan. So, you start to rationalize.
I can make myself something different.
I will only have one piece.
The pizza comes and you don’t eat just one, you eat three. Your willpower is drained, after fighting with the kids, you have nothing left. Then, the remorse hits and you start questioning.
Why can’t I ever stick to my plan? This is never going to work.
After a day of frustration and anger, of course your brain was begging for a hit of dopamine. Anything to bring a few minutes of pleasure, to an otherwise stressful day. And for the first few minutes, the pizza is amazing, until you realize that not only are you out of integrity with your goal and the pleasure is fleeting.
Does that mean you will always be a victim to your perceived lack of willpower?
It doesn’t have to. Nor do you have to beat yourself up for it. Success comes when you can start to watch and understand your behavior, simply with the goal of understanding why you make the choices you do.
When you deviate from your plan, why?
What are you thinking and feeling?
What are the triggers and trends that you start to recognize?
For me, whether it’s sticking to a meal plan, a budget or even a time management system, I have the hardest time when I’m feeling overwhelmed with a negative emotion like stress or frustration. When that happens, my brain loves to look for an easy button. Now that I know that, I can catch myself by checking in.
Does this action align with my plan? If not, why am I considering it?
What emotions would I be facing if I don’t choose this perceived immediate gratification?
What could I do instead that could allow me some relief and still move me towards my goal instead of away from it?
That extra few seconds of questioning, forces your intelligent brain to kick in and make an intentional decision.
What are your triggers for deviating from your goals? I can help you conquer these once and for all. Set up your free consultation and let’s get started!