broken weight loss mindsets: part 4

In part 4 of ‘Broken Weight Loss Mindsets’, we’re going to look at the habit of proactivity.
And how often, due to “faulty thinking patterns”, many people are proactive in the wrong areas - or at best, certainly not proactive in the areas that matter.

As a result of this, it causes poor eating habits, and unnecessary weight gain.

Which is then compounded by a misunderstsnding of the what the REAL problem is.

Other things get blamed - like “this just doesn’t work” and “I’m just too busy” - but those AREN’T the real issues.


By the way, you can check out the other posts in this series here: part 1  part 2, and part 3,


Pause for a second and ask yourself what you MAKE time for in your life, and what you “try to find time for”.

Really try to disceminate between the two - what you truly MAKE time for.
And what you either try to find time for, or what you fit into spare blocks of time as they arise.

By the way, “making time” for something, isn’t “I make sure it gets done by the end of the day”.
That’s not making time - that’s finding time to fit it in.

For clairty, making time, means 
1) Planning it in advance
2) Scheduling it for a specific time

What’s on your list of “make time for” ?

Chances are, if you’re honest with yourself, the list isn’t huge.
That’s normal.
It’s normal to think we’re on top of things and making time, when in reality we’re just ‘somehow getting a load of things done” through sheer brute force.

Expand your thinking not just from the day to day, but to your life in general.
What things do you ALWAYS make time for ?
What do you ALWAYS a) plan in advance and b) schedule?

Here’s a list of the typical things that get planned and scheduled (diarised):

- Hair appointments
- Holidays
- Doctors appointments
- Taking the kids to their weekly club
- Agreeing to meet a friend for coffee
- Sunday lunch out with the fam

What’s the common theme here?

They’re all ‘appointments’ of some sort.
An agreed time and place in which to do something, go somewhere or meet someone.


Now, ask yourself this:
How often do you ‘make appointments’ for the following:

- Sitting down the write a meal / menu plan for the week / next 3-4 days
- Sitting down to write a shoping list based off that meal / menu plan
- Going shopping with a very clear list of things to buy, based off a consciously thought-out meal plan
- Blocking out 30 minutes to find 10 new recipes on sites like bbc good food, so that the excuse of “I’m bored with what I eat” vanishes into thin air
- Scanning your week ahead, to asess when and where you might ‘slip up’, or even just be likely to over eat and drink? 

Again, the list could go on - the above is to make a point - and contrast it against the previous list of appointments.


It’s not normal or healthy, to plan every minute of our life.
It’s too restrcitive, and stuff comes up that knocks us off course.

But if you have a weight problem - which is an eating problem 90% of the time - then if you’re prioritising a hair appointment and taking little Jonny to cubs, but not prioritising organising your eating intentions for the week, then you have a “broken weight loss mindset”.

You have a ‘faulty thinking pattern’ around what else you should be prioritising.

Of course, your hair needs cutting, and jonny does need to go to cubs.
But addressing your weight problem (and this post is speaking to those who are unhappy with their weight) will do more for your self-esteem than a new perm.
And Jonny will no doubt value seeing his mum healthy and happy, as much as he does learning how to tie a reef knot.


Exercise:
Block out one hour, right now, for Sunday. Literally do that right now.
Morning’s are best, as the later things get left, the more likely we are to ignore them.

Make that appointment with yourself, a non-negotiable commitment.

Decide what you will use that 60 minutes for.
Suggestions:

1) Plan your week’s meal for you / the family, and write a shopping list based off of it.
SCHEDULE when you’ll go and buy that stuff

2) SCHEDULE your exercise for the week - ideally at least 3 days of a minimum of 30 minutes. Even if it’s just going out for a brisk walk, which may involve skipping Eastenders on an evening.

3) Block out and schedule the following Sunday’s appointment with yourself so that you always have a point in time where you can review things.


However, whatever you think will work for you, do it.
But make that appointment with yourself right now - so that you can start blocking out other IMPORTANT appointments with yourself - based on what you want (which, if you’re reading this series, includes addressing your weight and your health).


Fix that broken mindset around what gets prioritised and what doesn’t.
It’s a game changer :)