Surprisingly it has not been difficult. I have been to the supermarket a few times. For a split second the thought crossed my mind (peanut butter that is, but not the act of buying it) and then it disappeared as I kept my goals in mind. It is funny how when you have SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, timely) goals it is easy (or rather easier) to be successful and accomplish your goals. On the other hand, when you just go through the motions of everyday it is hard to do those “good for you” things (i.e. go to the gym, eat healthy). Honestly, if you don’t have goals in life, then what are you doing? We do things on a daily basis to help accomplish our goals (i.e. personal goals, health goals, professional goals, etc), but without goals, what are we doing? I have several goals and this is just one that got added to the list.
As I always say, you can’t accomplish your goals without a plan. I often help my patients come up with alternative behaviors or substitute foods and I, myself, have come up with a plan. I need to have other healthy alternatives at home (just like I recommend my patients to do). I always have fresh fruit and vegetables at home, so that is never a problem, but now with the peanut butter not easily available or accessible (not at home); I have no other choice but to eat the other foods I have available. Seems pretty simple, right? It actually is! Try having healthier food readily available and accessible and leave the junk food in the store. If all you have at home is healthy foods, then you have no choice—you either eat it or you starve!
So far, so good when it comes to my challenge. Let me know if you challenged yourself to make a change and how you are you doing.