HABITS

Now let's talk about your lifestyle. What are some of your daily habits that have a negative impact on your health? Stress at work? Too many cups of coffee per day? A diet coke in the afternoon? Staying up late watching reality TV when you should be sleeping? Putting too much on your plate and not putting your health first? That sugar addiction that makes you reach for candy at bedtime? All of these habits are detrimental to your health and dictate your entire life, including weight, happiness, and sleep patterns.

I know what you’re thinking – “let me live a little!” I completely understand because I’m the same way, which is why you’re going to love this program and the flexibility if offers. I’m a complete advocate of living life to the fullest and enjoying yourself; however, it’s important to learn how to control the desires that don’t serve you in the long-term.

Let’s do a little exercise. On a piece of notebook paper or in a journal, write down five habits you want to change.

For example:

1. Reduce coffee consumption and switch to green tea

2. Stop using sugar or artificial sweeteners and switch to Coconut Palm Sugar / Maple Syrup / raw honey)

3. Workout Three to four times a week

4. Meditate and write in a journal

Write down five more if they come to mind and post them on your bathroom mirror or somewhere you spend a bit of time in the morning. Make a plan to focus on one habit daily until you’ve improved all of them and replaced them with better choices.

Another way to kick bad habits is to create healthy rituals. Throughout this program, healthy rituals can include journaling, meditating, deep breathing, reflecting, and unplugging. These rituals will slow you down and help you reflect, rebalance, and melt away stress. They will also help you lose weight because you'll crave sugar less often (which throws off hormones, sleep patterns, and metabolism, and can lead to serious health issues like diabetes and insulin resistance).

You can do rituals at any point in the day, but you must follow a morning routine in this program. A positive morning ritual sets the stage for better decisions throughout the day.

Here is your morning ritual: Upon waking, take five minutes to practice deep breathing. Sit quietly in a secluded spot and breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. Set the day up for success by thinking positive thoughts, reframing any negative emotions, and setting daily goals. If others inspire you, take this time to read a passage or quote from Geneen Roth or Marianna Williamson, or listen to Les Brown, Eric Thomas, or Tony Robbins.