So You Want to Be Healthy: 3 ways to reprogram your mindset

10/26/2018

People will sell you whatever they think sounds good in order to take your money: "5 Steps to Skinny Thighs", "4 Weeks to Six Pack Abs", "101 Ways to Lose Weight".

I really wish these people would switch to selling used cars, because most of us can't be fooled into buying a car with brakes that don't work.

However, many of us fall victim to one of the biggest American paradoxes of the 21st century, we are an unhealthy nation obsessed with health.

The list of fad diets available to you on the internet or in the form of books should be a downright crime. I'm going to be blunt, but why do we think we can have a healthy body without putting in real work?

3 Ways to reprogram your mindset and actually get the results you want

Pyramid Mountain in Kodiak, Alaska

Where many of us go wrong, is that we've been programmed to believe we need to look a certain way and get caught constantly comparing ourselves to that unrealistic image.

We start believing that I need or have to lose weight to look like the actor or actress I saw on this or that ad, or that I want a beach body, six pack, or to fit into my wedding dress.

What we don't realize, is that these vanity driven goals are the first step towards failure. How do you think the health industry makes millions? It's messed up, but it's largely off of your desperate need to look a certain way and cyclical failure in doing so.

I'll let you in on the secret these companies and gyms don't want you to learn: if you want to achieve all these outcomes, then you need to reprogram your mindset, and here's how.

Go Against What Society Wants

Everyone is a little vanity driven, I totally get it because at times I am too, it's what makes us human. Yet, what society has placed premium on for years now, is for you to look a certain way. What you should want, is to feel a certain way.

Through education and my own experiences working with my clients, it is my firm belief that if we reprioritized our values and placed health and the pursuit of happiness a step above appearance, our goals would be easier achieved.

Look more closely:

Health: the main aim and focus
Happiness: one of many byproducts of health
Appearance: a byproduct of health and happiness!

Without your health you can't be your best for your family, friends, partner, etc., and in reality, happiness is one byproduct of good health, it leads to lower stress levels, more energy, better hair, skin, and nails, more confidence, higher sex drive, and so on. Ah yes, just a few ingredients that help to cultivate happiness.

So why are we focusing on appearance first? Appearing healthy does not mean you necessarily are, just look at the misconstrued reality Social Media and Photoshop can create.

Your happiness has to be genuine, social media doesn't know when you are lying to them, but at the end of the day, you do.

Go Towards What You Want

So how about this, imagine your goals as they pertain to health, because for all of us that can be very different.

For me, I love to wake up feeling stronger, more mobile, in less pain, and more energized throughout the day. What results as a natural byproduct of these things is a happier me and healthy body.

The health industry is smart, they also don't see you as a person, but as a consumer. This is a disservice to you, it does not have to be all about pant size, body fat percentage, or looking like the Calvin Klein or swimsuit models you see in ads.

See through it! YOU are important, not the bottom-line of the supplement companies and gyms trying to take advantage of your human weakness.

No More "Shoulds"

My final take away, try not to be so self-focused on this image you have in your head of how you should look because you will likely venture down a dark path of disappointment and unhappiness.

The worst outcome? You create an unhealthy relationship with food, labeling them as bad or good, and view exercise as punishment. If not you, someone you know.

I Challenge you

There is nothing wrong with understanding that you're a few pounds overweight, but as mentioned before, the why do you want to lose it is the question you need to be asking yourself.

Cultivating a healthy lifestyle is an ongoing process and a matter of consistency, investment, and long-term goal selection and to reprogram our mindsets in a healthy direction, we need to take action today with the following challenge inspired by The Will Power Instinct by Kelly McGonigal:

3 Ways to reprogram your mindset and actually get what you want

I "Will" Power Challenge

What is something that you would like to do more of, or stop putting off, because you know that doing it will improve your quality of life?

Investment: accepting this challenge is an investment of your time, energy, and money. Depending on where you are in your process, your investment may be in one more than the other, but if there is one area of life you should not waiver in your convictions, it's that your health is worth any type of investment.
If your doctor told you that you needed to buy a certain medicine to prolong your life, would you do it? In this day and age, most people would say yes without even batting an eye. But guess what, there is no such quick fix medicine. Every pill you ingest will have a side effect. The real medicine is diligent work and a commitment to physical activity and a healthy diet, and if you don't believe me?

Reprogramming Tip: make one investment adjustment this week that improves your quality of life. Examples: buy the healthier options at the grocery store, spend at least an hour everyday on some form of activity, go to bed a half hour earlier to feel more rested and energized during the day, etc.

I "Won't" Power Challenge

What is the "stickiest" habit in your life? What would you like to give up or do less of because it's undermining your health, happiness, or success?

Consistency: what is a habit? Something you consistently do, right? Well if I'm having a smoke or couple drinks after work every night to destress, these consistent actions are going to eventually add up into tar covered lungs or unwanted weight gain. On the other hand, if I consistently go to the gym after work, drink a glass of water in the morning before my cup of coffee, or buy produce weekly and avoid the center isles of the store, my mind and body are going to be happier and healthier for these good habits.
Reprograming Tip: substitute one unhealthy habit this week for a healthy one. Once mastered (take as much time as you need), swap out another unhealthy habit. My downloadable goal accountability calendar, the Synergy Scheduler, may help you.

I "Want" Power Challenge

What is the most important long-term goal you'd like to focus your energy on? What immediate "want" is most likely to distract you or tempt you away from this goal?

Long term goal setting: remembering temptations are temporary and being able to filter those out as noise and focus on what you really want is a powerful skill to learn. It will be easier to say no to something that tempts you - the brownie, argument, third drink, or one night stand - when you keep your focus on the bigger picture and what you are working for.
Reprogramming Tip: establish clear long term goals and discover the best method for you in terms of finding and keeping your focus. For some people this is going cold turkey all together on their vices, for others it's allowing the occasional give in to keep sanity. Maybe it's recruiting an accountability partner, putting a goal board up in your bedroom, or finding a trainer, coach, dietitian, counselor, etc. Whatever works for you, find it, and do it!

Conclusion

Many of us fall victim to the distorted societal view of fitness and taking shortcuts to get there.

If we actually reversed the common way of thinking, from appearance driven work to health driven work, ironically, appearance would be a natural, and more likely outcome.

Motivation is a tricky and fickle thing, and making sure we are selecting the right motivating factors can have tremendous impact on our long-term success. Take on the "Want, Won't, and Will Challenge" inspired by The Willpower Instinct, and start reprogramming your mindset today.

References

McGonigal, K. (2012). The Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Works, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do to Get More of It. New York, NY: Avery.

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