Setting Up Your Environment For Success
Your environment largely shapes the decisions you make. And by environment, we are talking about the places you cook and eat.
Most of us will rely on willpower when we want to eat healthy or avoid eating something unhealthy. The problem with this strategy is that willpower is like a battery. And if you’re tired or stressed, your battery power will be low, which makes it easier to reach for something that may not be the best choice for weight loss. Rather than relying on willpower, you can craft your environment so you can make a successful body transformation.
What is your environment like at home?
What kind of foods are in your kitchen right now?
Does your environment reflect a person that is losing weight?
That’s why environment starts with your choices on what to bring into your home. Focus on whole foods; foods closest to their natural forms.
You also want to create barriers in your environment, by not having certain foods or snacks in the house that might trigger you to overeat. Keeping these foods out of your environment will ensure you’re not consuming them.
Another way to look at your environment is by thinking about the factors in your life that might support or hinder you from eating healthier. This includes the people you live and eat with regularly. It can be challenging to eat different food, especially if you are cooking for multiple people in the home. That’s why it’s important to make simple food that tastes good to you. You can almost think of the parts of the meal like components, and others in the home can swap out or include whatever components they like.
Your environment is also outside of the home, at work, and when you go out to eat. When you have less control over the food, you do the best you can. When you're going to a party or eating out, you can eat less earlier in the day since you are likely consume more calories than usual.
Evaluate your environment:
What kind of foods do you have on hand?
What foods can you get rid of or add to improve your environment?
What’s your plan for the next time you eat outside of your home?
How does your environment reflect the person you are trying to become?