Have you ever gone on a diet and before the email was received by the decision making inbox of your mind, you found yourself scurrying out of the nearest Starbucks with coffee and donut(s) in hand?

Are you lacking willpower? This is the cure

You’re not alone. Each Monday millions of women around the globe rise to the challenge of a “fresh start”. We throw on some fabulous active wear (specially purchased for said new beginning), whip up an egg white omelette and churn out a quick yoga session before an early morning run.

Fifteen minutes and pulled hamstring later, we limp back indoors and stare at the the now rubbery omelette with disappointed eyes. Yes. It’s decision time… shrivelled up omelette or McMuffin to go? Latte or green smoothie? What will it be?

As we head into the office with donut crumbs still on our chin we can’t help but wonder… where did our “will power” go and more importantly, how do we get it back?

Here’s three ways to resurrect your motivational mojo and keep that willpower in check.

Still lacking willpower? This is the cure

1. Realise YOU matter

Do you put everyone else’s needs before your own? Let’s face it, there will aaaaaalways be someone demanding your time. Children, partners, bosses, Facebook (err, yup. Guilty) Your only job is to decide if the attention being demanded is deserved. YOU must become the most important person in your world. Not in an “I’m better than you” kind of way, but in an “if I don’t take care of myself, I can’t take care of you” kind of way. Treat your body with respect. Does it really want to eat fourteen bags of potato chips for dinner gracefully washed down with a litre of diet Pepsi? No. It doesn’t. Your mind will always gravitate towards instant gratification, but at some point you need to step up your game and TAKE CHARGE. Make food choices that nourish your body. Add a little pizzazz to your dinner plate with some fresh herbs and spices. DECIDE that you are worth more than you ever believed possible and then start making choices to support your decision.

2. Don’t dial down your dream

Got a dream? Good! Hold on to it. Write it on a sticky note and slap that baby on your bathroom mirror. It’s YOUR dream and only YOU can make it happen. Does that mean it will fall out the sky and land sweetly in your lap? Murphy’s Law says probably not. You must work towards it every.single.day. Maybe your dream is to get through the day without eating the entire packet of TimTams? Or perhaps you want a body you can finally feel comfortable in? We all start somewhere and this is your dream. No body else’s… yours. Decide today that you will no longer let anyone or anything stand between you and your potential. Why? Because as much as we all looove a good “finger pointing session”, ultimately the only person who can hold you back is you.

3. Don’t make it harder than it needs to be

Keeping your dietary momentum does not need to be a calorie/carb counting circus. I overcame emotional eating and lost over 20 kilos without brain surgery, hypnosis or that pin-pricking thing they do. They key is to make is as simple as possible. Those meal replacement shakes that are collecting dust in your kitchen cupboard? Ditch them, sister! Eat real food. Take a moment each day to think in advance about the types of delicious whole foods your body might enjoy and then… make sure you have them on hand. Try new things. Taste new flavours. Trust in your ability to stop eating when you’ve had enough aaaaand… remember to keep it simple. Every decision that you make matters but what matters most of all is believing that you CAN do this. Get around people who inspire you. Do they have qualities you’d like? Great! Learn from them. There are many ways to move from where you are now to where you want to be but ultimately you only need to remember this one simple thing… this is YOUR life. Live it for YOU!

Now it’s your turn… What’s your greatest challenge when it comes to keeping up your willpower? Is it food? Time? People, places, things? 

Let me know in the comments below!

Here’s to Ditching the Diet!