Headstrong Health: The Psychology of Getting Fit

The Dilemma:

After a 5am gym appointment, why on earth did I come to work and want a cookie? (Or 2?)

It might have to do with the fact that

1. It was THERE

2. I was tired. My previous conditioning was that when I felt tired, I would react by eating. Especially carbohydrates… simple carbohydrates. Aka the ‘s’ word.

3. It’s sugar.. sweet, tempting, and so willing to jump right in and wreak havoc on your insides.

The Analysis:

So here’s my thought process when trying to recondition myself and stop an undesirable behavior.

1. Do I really want this? (Am I being present?) This is the hardest thing to determine. There are a wide variety of factors that cause you to reach for food to ingest that is detrimental to your body. 

2. Is this part of my cycles?  Be sure to track your physical and emotional cycles. These cycles include emotions, stressed, tired, or overwhelmed;  transitions; disruptions in daily rhythms and routines; hormonal (i.e. time of month).  Knowing your cycles and finding cues to remind yourself in moments of weakness is key; it is the first step in mastering your behavior. 

3. What part of me wants this- my body, my mind, or my spirit?

A. BODY: Truly hungry- experiencing hunger pains, fatigue/sense of passing out, lack of energy due to low fuel source

B. MIND: Mental dialogue is saying you “SHOULD” eat. Maybe after a workout, or you “haven’t had enough” today. This type of urge is spurred by outside influences- like an article you read or something you heard.  You hear your inner chatter giving you reasons and excuses. 

C.SPIRIT: Something is missing, and you’re trying to fill a void. What you really want may be peace. Maybe you have something else you want to accomplish. 

D. EGO: Deep down there is a part of you that wants to stay stuck in your same cycle of habits. That part of you wants to stay conditioned because it’s easy- it’s not fulfilling, or joyful, but it’s easy and it doesn’t take a lot of discipline, self-awareness, or critical thought. This part of you justifies that you “deserve” it, but doesn’t take into account your goals for becoming your highest self. 

4. How will I feel after? Will I feel pleasure, more energetic, guilty, out of control?  A typical cycle may be: pleasure at first, then a sense of being out of control, then guilty, then later experiencing a sugar crash. You may convince yourself you can eat just one, but your body may get primed and want more junky “food.”

5. How will I feel if I take the opposite/higher action that is in line with my values and goals? Disciplined, clean, healthy, guilt-free, free from conditioning, one step closer to my goals.

6. More importantly! Assuming I am not actually physically hungry, and I don’t want to struggle with this anymore…

What can I do to make this better for myself the next time around? How can I replace this behavior with a better one that lines up with my goals– how can I recondition myself?

This is an opportunity to choose a new behavior. Many suggestions include choosing a better food– but we’re going to take it to the next level,  push our discipline, and use this  for growth. Challenge yourself to choose an action that has nothing to do with eating or nutrition. Instead, use this as an opportunity to make progress in another realm of your life. Meditation, Yoga, stretching, doing pushups, squats, lunges, pullups, reading, prayer, writing, studying, finishing tasks and tackling things you procrastinate on, playing a musical instrument, and catering to your relationships can all help channel your energy into something more productive. Any activity that you see in line with your highest self is a fruitful endeavors that will give you a sense of accomplishment, and help you to fade out  the unwanted behavior.

Slowly but surely, by choosing new behaviors in your minor day-to-day struggles, you will makeover your lifestyle to align with your goals.

The Facts:

Just to pound it home, sugar is not the solution.

Current emotional constructs surrounding sugar are as follows: happy happy joy joy, smiling children, colorful foods.. the media has hyped up high-sugar content foods because they are CHEAP and they are ADDICTING.

Sodas, candy, and other packaged confections are a cocktail of chemicals and  highly processed “food stuff.” White sugar adds calories, while non-calorie sweeteners make chemical changes in the brain resulting in desire for more sweet foods at the most innocent, and migraines and cancer at its most heinous. Just because they are in foods doesn’t mean they’re innocent: Aspartame was rejected multiple times before finally getting slight approval, and that’s only because the person trying to pass it got into the organization.

Nutritional life is much easier when you steer clear of sugary foods, and the habits and influences that had you eating them in the first place.

Suggested Readings:

Skinny Bitch – Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin

Food Rules – Michael Pollan

http://www.womens-wellbeing-and-mental-health.com/Premenstrual-Cravings.html