Stick to Your Fuel Plan

Motivate Yourself to Stick to Your Fuel Plan

There are four primary reasons for lack of motivation: boredom, no rewards, laziness, and a weak will power. A good fuel plan (Remember that a while ago we changed from using the word diet to fuel.) will ensure you don’t get bored or frustrated because of lack of results. We believe the following therapies will help improve your personal situation regarding your level of “laziness” and the possibility of having a “weak will power.”

Positive Affirmations

Persistent self-talk, whether negative or positive, slowly makes its way to your belief system. Just like telling yourself every day you are not good at anything will kill your confidence, repeatedly telling yourself you are capable of sticking to your resolutions (Remember the word resolution is just a new solution to a challenge before us.) will help you become more assertive and confident. “Positive affirmation” is simply another word for positive self-talk.

To build your willpower and combat laziness, you can try working with the following positive affirmations.

• I love and accept myself
• I am strong and confident
• I enjoy eating healthy
• I have the power to say No
• I eat only when I am hungry
• I have the power to resist temptation
• I love and respect myself for sticking to my diet plan
• I have the will power and confidence to adopt healthy eating habits

Visualization Exercises

You may have heard of athletes practicing visualization exercises before an important race. These exercises help them prepare their minds to deliver their best. The more they focus on winning, the more confident they feel and the better their performance is. In the same way, you can also practice visualization exercise to boost your confidence level so you can say no to temptation.

The following is a very simple yet powerful visualization exercise that can help you stay motivated to stick to your fuel plan.

• Sit or lie down in a comfortable position
• Close your eyes
• Take a few deep breaths
• Pay attention to every in-breath and out-breath
• Imagine with every in breath you are inhaling light and positive energy and are exhaling all your stress and anxiety with every out breath
• Now visualize yourself sitting at a dining table with a plate full of the healthiest foods you can imagine (fruits, leafy vegetables, eggs, etc).
• Pick up each food item and take your time to savor it, feel it fill you with health and goodness.
• Imagine that you are smiling with contentment.
• Tell yourself that you enjoy eating healthy.
• Take a few deep breaths again
• Relax
• Open your eyes

This visualization exercise will help you appreciate healthy food. However, do remember that just because you are eating healthy doesn’t mean you can overindulge! Unless you eat in moderation, no fuel—healthy or unhealthy—will keep you fit.

Check in with Your Body

When you are being asked to make a decision about what to eat, check in with yourself and your body. Simply ask, “Body, what would you like to eat?” Then wait for an answer. Initially it may seem a bit silly or unrealistic that your body will actually answer, but in time the more your allow your body to help you choose the foods and exercises, the greater your motivation and desire will be to honor the input.

Achieving your goals regarding health and wellness is more than just changing what you are eating or how you are exercising: it means embracing a new perspective and opening yourself up to hearing your inner wisdom guide you in your choices.

Until next time, embrace your inner wisdom.

Namaste,
Karen