Skip to main content

why avoiding certain foods may not be the answer

approach goals vs. avoid goals


Are you having a hard time avoiding certain foods?  Are you trying to cut out sugar, grains, or dairy, but just can’t seem to fight the call of a mid-afternoon visit to the vending machine?  Maybe avoidance isn’t the answer for you.

Maybe you need to make an “approach” goal instead of an “avoid” goal.

What I mean by that is maybe your goal should be “I will drink 60 ounces of water a day.”

Or maybe, “I will eat 100 grams of protein a day.”

“I will eat two eggs per day.”

“I will eat three cups of vegetables per day.”

“I will spend 20 minutes outside each day.”

“I will exercise 30 minutes each day.”

You get the picture. 

Set a goal for something you will do, not something you won't.

Setting yourself up for success and celebrating the wins is always better than punishing yourself for the transgressions.

These are all examples of goals I personally have for myself.  If I’m craving a cookie, I tell myself that if I’ve done all the other things I had planned then I can go ahead and have a cookie.  Usually, by the time I’ve eaten my protein and veggies, drunk my water, and taken a walk, I’ve pretty much forgotten about the cookie.

Of course, if you want to be successful, you need to build these approach goals into your daily routine.

Make sure your water bottle is always with you.  Have some protein already cooked in your fridge.  Cut up your veggies ahead of time.  Block out time for exercise—preferably first thing in the morning or right after work so nothing else can interfere.  Get some sunshine during your lunch break to build your vitamin D stores for immunity, strong bones, and mental health.

Then give yourself a pat on the back instead of a kick in the shins.  Chart your progress with gold stars instead of demerits and see how much better you feel about the process.  Hating yourself healthy (or thin) never works, friends.  Your body may be a bit rebellious at times, but ultimately, you’re on the same team.

You've got this, friends!

If you'd like to talk to me more about creating a wellness and nutrition plan that works for you, I've got you!  I'm a certified Nutrition Coach who will create a simple, customized meal plan for you and coach you through how to implement it into your busy life.  We also talk about all the pitfalls that make it hard, and help you make it the anchor that keeps you healthy, energized, and sane through the whirlwind of your everyday life.

I'd love to talk to you about the program, so please book a free consultation with me by clicking the Calendly button. I look forward to talking to you!



Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

meditation on a rose

The universe was trying to tell me something this week.  First, I got a bouquet of beautiful pink roses from my daughter’s boyfriend for no particular reason (who does that? He’s a keeper!) The next day I read about the Heart of the Rose meditation in The Monk who Sold his Ferrari . In this form of meditation you gaze into the heart of a rose for several minutes, soaking in the beauty and clearing your mind of all other distractions. I tried it briefly, but honestly, I wasn't really into it. Later that day, since I apparently didn’t get the message, my coworker gave me a beautiful rose from her garden. So now I had a rose on my desk at work, roses on my table at home, and a book on my counter reminding me to take more time to meditate. I had been on a great streak of meditating ten minutes a day while I was at home all day this summer, but since I went back to work, that was one of the first habits to quietly slip away. The stress of the pandemic sneaks up on you. You think ...
Post a Comment
Read more

a day in the life of a nutrition coach (and part-time librarian)

I’m always interested in how other people live their day-to-day lives behind the scenes, so I thought I’d share what I do. There’s nothing earth-shattering about it, just a series of small habits strung together throughout the day. Here's what a typical day looks like for me: 5:00 wake up. I get dressed and drink a glass of water while my coffee is brewing.  I like my French press with a little cinnamon, turmeric, black pepper, collagen powder, and a teaspoon of coconut oil. (Cinnamon for blood sugar regulation, turmeric and pepper for inflammation, collagen for my skin, hair, and joints, and coconut oil for my brain.) I drink my coffee while I stretch a little, look at my plan for the day, fill my water bottle, and read for a few minutes. On the weekends, when I have more time, I like to journal and then read for a longer time. Once I get my daughter off to band practice, I go for a run or walk for 30-45 minutes. After a long hiatus due to plantar fasciitis, I am trying to impleme...
Post a Comment
Read more

my healing protocol

  In case you haven't seen my latest post, I recently had skin cancer surgery, and ended up popping a few stitches.  Now I have a hole on the top of my head that is healing very slowly.  It's been over a month now, and I'm still a long way from being healed.  My next stop is a wound care clinic, and then I'm on to a plastic surgeon.   Looking in the mirror in the mornings and trying to do something with my hair while hiding the mess under a headband is the hardest, and honestly, for a few weeks there, I had a really tough time dealing with it.   I'm tired of playing the victim role, though.  I know what I need to do to heal myself, and the answer doesn't lie at the bottom of a box of cookies.  Not that I had gone overboard with the junk food, but I did let things slip a little.   In my nutrition coaching business I give my clients a meal plan to follow each week, and those that do see the greatest results.  So...why was I ...
Post a Comment
Read more