It’s not about willpower

Willpower is fine for short-term progress, but long-term success requires planning and finding ways to feel motivated daily.

In the past, a lack of willpower has been blamed for causing us to fall off the diet wagon, but new research indicates that trying to will your way to long-term success rarely gets the job done. Willpower is finite, and when you're stressed, tired or even bored, you can easily hit the limit in terms of "I will not eat that brownie. I will NOT eat that brownie. I WILL not eat that brownie..."-type thinking.

So if willpower isn't the key to success, what is? It actually comes down to planning ahead, making smart choices and keeping yourself motivated. Here are some tips to get you started down that path:

Try to eat at regular intervals, and eat at the same time every day. This will keep your appetite from raging out of control when there is nothing around but a Krispy Kreme treat.
Never go to a "food event" - like a wedding or party - hungry. If you do, you will most assuredly head down the wrong path. ( The one with all of the cake, of course.)
If you’re going to be around decadent, high calorie foods – whether it be the local PTA cake sale or your mother’s house for dinner – decide ahead of time how many items you will sample, then stick to it. For example, allow yourself 4 “tastes” or “ 2” full portions – and don’t go over.
Eat mindfully. If you think about every piece of food you put in your mouth you’ll naturally put in less.
In the event that you have gorged yourself on a not-so-healthy meal, don’t beat yourself up for a lack of will power. Instead, forgive yourself and simply “ move on.”

Keep these 5 steps in mind, and you will find it easier to systematically stay on track without allowing a seeming lack of willpower make you feel hopeless.

Brought to you by Amber O’Neal, Certified Personal Trainer and Owner of Café Physique, a fitness and nutrition company specializing in studio and in-home personal training, yoga & pilates and nutrition & wellness counseling in Metro Atlanta. For more information, please visit www.CafePhysique.com.