Complaining over something you have complete control of is super silly.  

Let that #truthbomb set in.

People talk to me about food in disguise for my permission to eat food….which I’m going to give them my permission…because….they’re adults. I do provide guidance based on their macros and the science; eat carbs dense in micronutrients (vitamins and minerals…oats, whole grains, veggies, fruits) over cheap carbs (bread, sugary drinks, processed foods); if you’re low carb you want to increase carbs slowly so you don’t bloat and allow your stomach tor produce digestive enzymes; the importance of fat and the different fats; blah blah blah, this is supposed to be a short blog blurb…so I’m going to try and stay concise!

I get asked frequently, “What do you eat?” I’ve actually become irresolute of sharing my diet, because what most people need to make better food choices is willpower, and sharing what I eat won’t develop willpower. Willpower’s definition, in its truest form, is awareness, and the freedom to make the most positive decision for you. Most of us view willpower as sitting in front of a plate full of cupcakes, but the reality is willpower is more along the lines of making the decision to brush your teeth daily for good dental health.

A majority of us were instilled with the willpower – positive decision-making – to brush our teeth daily for good dental health when we were very small. This was a blessing – thanks mom and dad! But getting exercise and movement and choosing foods for a healthy body were lost on a lot of our childhoods and we have to learn these behaviors as adults.

Willpower is ownership and responsibility of our actions. And ownership and responsibility can be a daunting task. It takes a positive attitude, especially when things are bad, being happy and positive when everything is going your way is easy. It takes effort and a good mindset to be positive and push forward in the suck. I can sit in front of a plate of cookies when I am starving and not eat them if I decide they don’t fit into my choices for the day. That’s not trying to be pretentious; it’s an example of good food choices.

If willpower isn’t understood – that ownership of every food and drink decision is your responsibility – then it will be hard to establish better eating habits. Sharing my diet is unrelatable, alien and quite frankly, irrelevant. I’ve offered numerous nutrition challenges over the years and one requirement is no booze. The no booze requirement is a deal breaker for a lot of people. And booze and performance or booze and weight loss don’t go together. I do drink, but my boundaries are once a week and no more than two drinks. I know if abstaining from booze is a deal breaker, a lot of the other “harder” things that require willpower (making a positive decision) will be definite deal breakers.

I don’t drink alcohol frequently because I hate the way it makes me feel sobering up. I don’t sleep well, and the day after I’m fatigued and have a slight headache all day. I spend the day chasing my glucose (alcohol decreases your glucose, that’s why eating cheap carbs [spike glucose]…makes you feel better temporarily). I don’t care for this so I use willpower – a positive decision – to abstain or use control when drinking alcohol.

I decide what I am going to eat before the day begins. I generally eat the same things because it’s easy. Trying to keep food “interesting” and “changing it up” just complicates things for me. I don’t have “treat” foods. I drink water, and black coffee. I make sure I eat lots of veggies every day, and I take a magnesium supplement. I follow my macros, in case you are interested, they are 167 P, 200 C, 65 F. I use my willpower – positive decision-making – to not eat certain foods or drink too much alcohol to keep visceral fat to a minimum so I am not at risk for diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. Just like brushing my teeth daily for good dental health.

Willpower isn’t something out of reach – you will find having willpower is easier when you surround yourself with people who have similar goals as yourself. And when you use positive talk, especially in the suck.