The Gym Diaries of a Lazy Bitca

harpgohard:

Most people think that having lots of willpower is a sign of being a good or moral person. In reality, willpower is less like a virtue and more like a muscle of the brain. It’s a muscle that can be easily overwhelmed if it takes on too much at once-kind of like your pectoral muscles would be if you tried to bench press a school bus. 
The implications? You are not a good person or a bad person. You are just skilled or unskilled at using this brain resource to accomplish your goals! 

Want to get more skilled at using this muscle? Here are some tips:

1. Prepare in advance to prevent slip ups 
   -chose a day out of the week to plan and measure out your meals
   -keep healthy snacks with you at all times (fruit, veggies, nuts) 
   -have everything needed for the gym ahead of time so you can just grab your duffle bag & go
2. Do not take on too much at once  
   -by trying to accomplish too many tasks at once you are more likely to get overwhelmed
   -choose 1 or 2 goals to really focus on at a time
   -once you form a habit, performing these goals become a routine. after you accomplish this you can choose new goals to work on
3. Do not starve yourself 
   - whether it has to do with weight loss or not, you’re going to have an extra hard time keeping to your goals if you let yourself get too hungry
   - using willpower actually takes real energy!  
4. Distract yourself
   - it is easier to resist temptation if you are not thinking about it
   - ie. read,  go for a walk, meet up with a friend, paint your nails, etc
5. Strengthen your willpower by exercising it
   - use your success in one area to build willpower in others 
   - by choosing a healthy snack over an unhealthy snack may also help you choose to go to the gym rather than just sit around and watch tv
6. Visualize your goals
   - when you feel tempted to do something unhealthy, remember that this small sacrifice will make a big difference in the long run
   - so fantasize how you will look and feel when you finally reach your goal and consider if giving into short-term satisfaction will be worth it
7. Find a way to make accomplishing your goals fun
   - you are more likely to stay on track if you are doing things you enjoy

It’s never too late to start working on your willpower. 

(via happyhealthyhorny)