A Terrible Thing to Waste

We're growing our willpower at The Healthy Weigh...or should I say, our 'I will' power, 'I won't' power and 'I want' power...the three powers that make up willpower! This week we focused on two more practices that have been scientifically proven to build willpower. Willpower lives in the prefrontal cortex of the brain, and the more blood flow we can get to this region of the brain, the more willpower we'll have.

Our list of ways to boost willpower is growing by the week! The key to boosting willpower  however, is not in knowing about the things on this list...but practicing them. The brain is a terrible thing to waste...especially when it comes to the prefrontal cortex!

Here's our list so far:

Meditate

Rewards

Exercise

Internal processing

Revisit want power

Maintain level blood sugar

Avoid triggers

Complete tasks that you've been reluctant to do

When I look over this list of "willpower boosters," it makes so much sense.  A person who is practicing this kind of life style will absolutely have more willpower!

This person is centered and focused, (meditation). They are giving to themselves good things that bring them pleasure vs. food rewards that are really the cause of their pain. (rewards)  This person is  experiencing the "high"  that comes from regular activity. (exercise)  They aren't afraid to process past and current pain to avoid numbing their feelings with food, (internal processing) and when they feel their willpower weakening, they re-visit the real reason they are eating healthy. (want power) Because they are eating regularly, eating a balanced diet, and staying away from diet sodas, they are feeling physically satisfied. (maintain blood sugar levels) They don't test their willpower by bringing unhealthy foods into the house. (avoid triggers) They have discovered that some of the projects that they've been putting off aren't that bad after all, and they really can complete them, just like they can say no to the bad and yes to the good. (complete tasks that you've been reluctant to do)

Can you see why this person has more willpower??!!  It's not a matter of white knuckling it through life...It's a matter of doing the things to build up that prefrontal cortex so that you are living a balanced, healthy lifestyle on auto pilot.

It always goes back to this...change your thinking and you'll change your life!  We spend WAY too much time thinking about food, recipes, what we can and can't eat...and way too little time on this list of willpower boosters!

Having a solid, effective nutritional plan to follow is a must when losing weight...but keeping it off for life requires more than that! It requires a lifestyle that promotes willpower. As a person who lives and works to maintain my goal weight, I'm very aware of the importance of living this balanced lifestyle. I'm working at this list all the time!

So here's to willpower and here's to celebrating the fact that we have the ability to grow it in ourselves! Until next week when we add to this list...work on that gray matter, it's a terrible to waste!

Always encouraging you,

Letha