Ok, I admit just like everyone else I have issues with willpower especially when it comes to dark chocolate covered almonds. It might be the one thing that’s hard stay away from. I’m not a big pastry, cookies, or cake person. I don’t do a candy but there just something about those chocolate covered almonds.
Most of us believe that willpower is some sort of magical formula that only a few of us are born with. I personally believe it’s really not willpower but priorities. Scientist and psychologist deem “willpower” as self-control and smart decision-making strategies.
So, if your excuse for falling off the weight loss wagon is that you don’t have the willpower, it simply means you have to hone in your self-control & decision-making strategies.
- Change how you define willpower
Think of willpower as game plan. I mean a basketball team doesn’t just show up and play game each week. Nope, they practice, they practice, and they practice some more. Whether you know it or not, they practice for every possible situation that may come up in a game. Instead of saying that you have no willpower ask yourself how to handle the situation.
If you are saying, “I don’t eat vegetables.” What you are really saying is that I choose not to eat vegetables. Maybe because you were simply forced to eat your veggies growing up as a kid and now as an adult you will find every possible excuse why not to eat them. And simply put, if you want something bad enough, you will figure a way to make it happen.
There is a solution to most problems you just have to start looking for the solutions and stop dwelling on the problem. You will just need to figure out what veggies that you really don’t mind eating
- Set yourself up for success.
You’ve probably heard the old adage that luck is where preparation meets opportunity. The same can be said for willpower—a little prep work can help you make healthy choices. Avoid buying chips and cookies. If you buy chocolate, buy bite-size.” Look at it this way—if you can resist buying chips at the grocery store, you only have to resist temptation once. If you buy the chips, you’ll have to resist temptationevery single timeyou walk past your kitchen.
- Get your rest in
Making sure you get sound sleep is a great way to improve your willpower. Managing stress and adequate sleep are as they are as critical as eating your fruits and vegetables and being physically active. No matter how busy you are, make sure you get a good night’s sleep and carve out a few minutes each day to de-stress. It can make a world of difference to your willpower.
- Focus on tomorrow’s goal, not today’s mistakes.
When you’re on any sort of a weight loss plan, it’s easy to obsess over the occasional a high-calorie snack here or maybe you skipped work out there, and lose sight of your long-term goal. But the ability to rally after a setback may be more important than the ability to make great decisions all the time. “A set-back is a set-up for a comeback. You will have to dig deep and let your inner most self-know that come hell or high water, I’m going to reach my goal. Whether it takes six months or two years, you have to steady the course and be there for the long haul.
So the next time you’re tempted to curse your lack of willpower, remember that self-control is a skill—and like any skill, you’ll screw up a few times while you’re learning it. What’s important is that you keep going. “Determine your weak areas and make a plan to overcome them. Put your plan into practice, evaluate it and adjust it if necessary. And expect from time to time that you will to stray away from the plan but the ultimate goal is that you don’t stop. Keep pushing no matter what.
Stay On The Grind…