If you have been around Cr8 Fitness very long, you have probably heard me say at some point something along the lines of "If you want to be successful with your nutrition, make things easier." It makes sense. If things are easy, you are more likely to actually do them.
But then I realized that could be a double edged sword.
As I was thinking about the eating habits of our clients who have had great success with reaching their weight loss and body comp goals and what got them there, I realized that in many cases, making things harder actually works better.
Principle: We consume less when it's harder to consume.
Here's a simple illustration. Dean loves potato chips. If there are potato chips around, Dean is going to eat them - lots of them. My strategy to not eat them? Don't have them in the house and available to eat! If he's REALLY craving those crispy kettle fried delights, He has to get up, put his shoes on, go out in whatever weather we are having, get in the car, drive to the store and back - the whole thing. I can tell you that 99.9% of the time, it's not worth the trouble, so he doesn't do it.
Principle: We consume less when it's harder to consume.
I love chocolate and peanut butter. Having a Reeses Peanut butter cup in front of me is dangerous. I only have so much will power. But if it doesn't come home with me, it is harder to eat one let along the whole package.
You could apply this strategy to just about anything food related. Love pizza but want to eat less? Don't eat pizza unless you make it yourself. Ice cream? Buy an ice cream maker and only have it when you make your own. You get the picture.
So while the "make things easier on yourself" shouldn't get thrown out the window (Want to eat more veggies? Make it easier by having them in the fridge, for example), sometimes harder is the way to go.
How could you apply this strategy in your life. Love to hear your thoughts!
Coach Nancy
