Willpower is a fickle friend. Having willpower in the moment of decision can be HIGHLY unreliable! Let's face it, it's too easy to cave in the moment of a "what do I eat" decision and make a choice that doesn't support your goals. This is usually followed by the "why did I just do that?" feeling which hurts our confidence and undermines our ability to get to our goal. Ask me how I know this...because I've done it 1000 times!
We can prevent the problem though of having to make a good decision "in the moment." One tool to use is "Predecide". Predecide is simple...and we need simple! Predecide what you will eat before the moment so you eliminate the emotional decision. When you're in the moment of making a decision on what to eat, emotions play a part of the decision and willpower may not hold up. However, if you know what you want before the moment of decision you take the emotion out of the decision. You just act...you don't have to think!
Here's an example. If you look at a menu in a restaurant you're bombarded with choices and you ask yourself things like, "What sounds good?" or "What should I eat?" and the complexity of the process creates indecision. Then you say, "Shoot, I don't know...I'll just have (insert unhealthy food name here)."
Know what you're having at your next meal before you get into the situation...Predecide!
BEFORE you walk into the restaurant, know you're having grilled salmon and vegetables.
BEFORE you open the refrigerator, know you're having grilled chicken, rice and vegetables.
DON'T EVEN OPEN THE MENU! Why would you? You know what you're going to have! Don't even accept the menu when they hand it to you...say, "I know what I'm having."
Don't open the fridge until you KNOW what foods you're going to eat and in what amounts that support your goals. If you're following some of the other tools, you might be logging your food (the #1 behavior). If so, log your food BEFORE you eat it!
If your emotions and willpower are crippling your goals, take the emotion out of the equation! Take the legs out of that monster by deciding in advance how you will act- so you can follow the plan and ACT don't THINK. Subscribe to McGraw's Laws by Email
We can prevent the problem though of having to make a good decision "in the moment." One tool to use is "Predecide". Predecide is simple...and we need simple! Predecide what you will eat before the moment so you eliminate the emotional decision. When you're in the moment of making a decision on what to eat, emotions play a part of the decision and willpower may not hold up. However, if you know what you want before the moment of decision you take the emotion out of the decision. You just act...you don't have to think!
Here's an example. If you look at a menu in a restaurant you're bombarded with choices and you ask yourself things like, "What sounds good?" or "What should I eat?" and the complexity of the process creates indecision. Then you say, "Shoot, I don't know...I'll just have (insert unhealthy food name here)."
Know what you're having at your next meal before you get into the situation...Predecide!
BEFORE you walk into the restaurant, know you're having grilled salmon and vegetables.
BEFORE you open the refrigerator, know you're having grilled chicken, rice and vegetables.
DON'T EVEN OPEN THE MENU! Why would you? You know what you're going to have! Don't even accept the menu when they hand it to you...say, "I know what I'm having."
Don't open the fridge until you KNOW what foods you're going to eat and in what amounts that support your goals. If you're following some of the other tools, you might be logging your food (the #1 behavior). If so, log your food BEFORE you eat it!
If your emotions and willpower are crippling your goals, take the emotion out of the equation! Take the legs out of that monster by deciding in advance how you will act- so you can follow the plan and ACT don't THINK. Subscribe to McGraw's Laws by Email
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