When most people decide it's time to improve any aspect of their health, fitness and lifestyle, the obvious thing is to ask “what do I need to do?”
For many years I've been a big fan of focusing on taking actions and building habits that automatically push other things out - let me explain: if you focus on increasing your protein intake you will almost certainly snack less and probably consume less sugar and refined carbohydrates
EXERCISE IS A CATALYST
Exercise is also incredibly important for this and can act as a catalyst for many other positive changes:
after exercise you're less likely to make poor nutritional choices and “undo” your good work; it boosts your mood so you're less likely to comfort eat
purely from a logistical perspective, if you're in the gym instead of at the pub…or if you're out for a walk instead of sitting on your backside, you're less likely to eat out of boredom
It's a highly effective strategy and has helped lots of people simplify improving their health. By focusing on just a few key things you're leveraging your actions and other habits that could have been derailing your efforts, just cease to be an option
The added bonus is that you don't have to use up any additional mental bandwidth or willpower to “restrict” yourself, because let's face it, not many of us like to feel restricted and it's one of the big reasons why people's plans with their health and fitness fail
(Plus, taken too far it can tribute to disordered behaviours…which clearly are not a move towards “health”)
LETTING GO
However, in recent years from working with clients, I've come to appreciate the power in the things you say “no” to - habits and behaviours you let go of
People don't like being told “no”, but when it's your own conscious choice to stop doing something, that's a different energy altogether
If you don't do something because you recognise it conflicts with goals and objectives; that's different
ALIGNMENT AND IDENTITY
If you stop doing something because it's out of alignment with the life, the health, the body and the energy you want - because you're operating as that version of you already
“The new version of me doesn't do that”
That's a true identity shift
And that is a way to make massive changes, quickly, easily and permanently.
Does it mean that you will never, ever, ever do that thing again?
Maybe. Maybe not.
EXCEPTION vs NORM
But if something which has been sabotaging your efforts for years can become the exception rather than the norm; goes from weekly to monthly, or a few times a year…
And alongside that if something which supports your objectives - which is aligned with your health visions - goes from once in a while to daily…you're onto a winner
COMPOUNDING POWER
The combined compounding effects of multiple healthy things becoming more frequent and the unhealthy ones becoming less frequent is incredibly powerful
So if you want to improve your health and performance, of course you need to decide what you're going to “do”
But it's also worth paying attention to the “don'ts” as well - and not because they're “bad” or “sins” or any of that guilt-inducing rubbish - but by acknowledging that they are not part of the lifestyle of who you want to be
Then let them go…
Thanks for reading,
Darren
