We are just about half way through 2019. Can you believe it? Many of us are focusing on taking a long-term approach to our health and fitness, as well as working on sustainable healthy habit formation. Awesome. Way to go!!
Now, the second half of 2019, aka the “Long Haul” is coming.
When it comes to staying focused on the goal of taking a long-term approach to your nutrition, here are 3 thoughts to munch on:
1. Inner Monologue: This is a great time to take an honest look at yourself and your inner monologue. Your inner thoughts affect your outward attitude and your actions. How you feel about different situations may impact how you react to different situations and as a result, impact your nutrition choices. Take a moment to reflect on your inner thoughts and how this may impact your nutrition. When you get stressed, what foods do you turn to for comfort? Gain some awareness of how you react to stressors and how this stress impacts your nutrition.
Take this a step further. If you do turn to unfavorable foods for comfort, is there an alternative behavior that is healthier that you can engage in at an earlier point, before resorting to the foods?
2. Focus: What are you focused on right now? What are your short and long term goals that you are shooting for? Are you looking ahead to areas of your week that may be busy and making plans to stay on track with nutrition rather than resorting to convenience foods? What’s your ultimate long term goal and what are things you can do today, this week, this month to accomplish that goal? What are other behaviors that you can engage in (examples: sleep, exercise, meditation) to better your chances at staying on track with making healthy food choices?
3. Reflection and Evaluation: Reflect on the past few months. Do a self evaluation. Since the start of 2019, how have you improved? What are your bright spots when it comes to improved eating habits? Give yourself credit for the things you are doing well.
What are some areas you have yet to improve and want to work on? Set your intention now for the rest of 2019. Get ready to crush these action steps and show improvement on these, while staying consistent with the behaviors that are starting to become routine.
Challenging your inner monologue, staying focused, reflecting and self evaluation will help us stay committed to working on our health and wellness goals, and will help you get through the “Long Haul” of this part of the year.
With commitment to these areas, you will be an improved version of yourself with feelings of confidence during the second half of 2019.