Do you ever start with the best health-related intentions, like:
- “I’ll exercise 3 times a week”
- “I’ll have the salad instead of the chips”
- “I’ll skip dessert tonight”
And find yourself magnetically attracted to the couch instead of the treadmill…inching over to that queso dip…helping yourself to that extra scoop of icecream, thinking “I’ll start that diet in the morning…
Setting intentions and breaking them can cycle quickly from disappointment and frustration to a lot of negative self-talk, producing nothing but increasing self-hatred and a growing waist band.
Here’s a switch: it’s not about the food. It’s not about the exercise. It’s not about “moderation.”
At AHC, we understand the circumstances that can cause you to act against your own best health self- interest and ditch your weight loss program. We know how the pressures of these circumstances can get so extreme that you act in ways that hurt your health. You can forget how important your health is to everything.
Until you have a health crisis. An illness, an emergency, a medication, a diagnosis—these crises bring into stark relief how precious your health is.
Or maybe one day you simply look in the mirror and realize that you don’t like what you see, and haven’t for a long time, maybe years. Our bodies are miraculous, so marvelous we can often take years or decades of abuse before the “bill comes due” and our lifestyle comes to a crashing halt.
Not all health crises result from lifestyle choices and not all dire health diagnoses can be prevented by lifestyle changes, but the leading causes of chronic health issues are related to lifestyle issues. Our environment is full of intense pressure that makes it hard for us to eat well, move our bodies, reduce stress, and have restful sleep. This environment is unlike to change anytime soon. If we want to achieve our dreams and desires, including optimal health and quick weight loss, we need to create a micro-environment that supports our highest ideals. We can create a bit of paradise within the swirl of chaos. It all starts with making a decision that you are committed to creating the health and life you want, and then seeking out the support and resources you need to make that dream your reality.