If achieving weight loss goals were easy, everyone would have done it by now. Even with your 24-hour eating plan there will ALWAYS be obstacles. A key to achieving your goal is your ability to overcome obstacles in your path.
Obstacles come in three flavors, external, internal, and habitual.
External obstacles are outside your control. It could be an unplanned change in schedule. It’s your coworker surprising you with a birthday cake. Maybe it’s a last-minute invite to Happy Hour. You got a flat tire and missed your dinner. All things you didn’t plan on.
Internal obstacles are inside your brain. I know I planned a salad for lunch but now I want something else. I’m full but I’m finishing everything on my plate so I don’t waste food. It’s negotiating with the part of your brain that doesn’t want change.
Habitual obstacles are unwanted habits that you’ve formed. Friday night means pizza and beer. When I take this route to Target I always drive through Chick-Fil-a. My daily coffee has lots of cream and sugar, no way can I drink it black.
You need a STRATEGY!
Write down all the obstacles for you that may come up this week. Be specific on the internal and habitual obstacles. You know what those are. You can be a bit more generic on the external obstacles. Then for each one of the obstacles you have, write a strategy next to it.
Examples:
Obstacle:
Don’t want planned lunch
Strategy:
In the morning, ask coworker to eat lunch with you. Tell her you know you won’t want your planned lunch, but you’re going to eat it anyway. Ask her to help hold you accountable.
Obstacle:
Unplanned after work happy hour
Strategy:
Attend the happy hour. Order club soda with lime. Enjoy the company. Tell friends you’re not hungry to avoid eating bar food.
Obstacle:
Friday night pizza and beer with hubby
Strategy:
Tell hubby let’s change it up. How about dinner at home, and then go see a move?
Remember you really are in control. What goes in your mouth is what you choose to put in it. Having a strategy for the obstacles you know are coming will better prepare you to overcome them.
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