So, How Can You Improve Your Career By Eating Better? Follow These Four Steps:

1. Decide To Eat Better

This is an important first step. Many of us do not want to give up our great tasting treats. Some of us can’t even imagine ourselves without these foods because they get us through the day. And, half of the time we may not even realize what we are doing. But, what about the other side? What happens once that momentary pleasure passes and you are left with the side effects? Feeling tired, jittery, or wanting more. Food gives us a feeling of elation. In the moment, we feel great. Afterwards, we don’t. We know the cycle needs to stop, but we do not know how to stop it. The cycle of unhealthy eating can stop once you recognize what you are doing and decide to stop it.

2. Plan To Eat Better  

Because unhealthy food choices surround us, the way to better eating is good planning. If you know you will be working through lunch and your boss is ordering pizza, request that a salad be part of the delivery. If Bob is taking orders for breakfast, choose egg whites or whole wheat toast. If you will be in your car all day for business purposes, pack healthy foods for the ride. If you know you get hungry every day at 3 pm, keep a few healthy snacks in your desk in anticipation of this time. If you have to look for healthy choices when you are hungry, you will have a hard time finding them. Healthy choices will not be found at the gas station when you stop for gas, at the vending machine, or in the cafeteria. Eating healthy is important for your mental and physical well-being, so plan ahead.

3. Eat Better

You are sitting at your desk. You are staring at an apple. You don’t really want this apple but you feel like you “should” eat it. What will you do? Throw the apple in the garbage and hit the vending machine for chocolate covered peanuts? Or, eat the apple because you know you will feel better AND you made a promise to yourself that you would eat better? In our careers, we come to certain points when we know that if we do not do something different, then the outcome will always stay the same. This is one of those moments. Are you tired of feeling tired? When the answer is yes, your food choices will change. The way to eat better is to eat better. The place to start is your next meal. The beginning (which requires change) is tough. But once you form new habits, you will not want to go back to your unhealthy ways.

4. Make A Change In Your Career

Now that you feel better, use your newfound energy to create a career you really want.

So, what do you say? You only have one life to live, so it might as well be a life you love! 

Since many of my subscribers are coaches, this section is for you. It contains tips and techniques to take your coaching practice to the next level.

If you are what you eat, then eating all of the time will take away your motivation and energy to becoming a successful coach. Ask yourself these questions: 

1. Are You Hungry?

This is the key to ending nibbling. Feel like nibbling? Stop! Take stock. Are you really hungry for food or are you tense, bored, want a break?

2. Strengthen Your Decision.

If you often say to yourself as you graze, "I know I shouldn't," then change what you say to yourself. Instead, say I don't do that any more. I have decided and the decision is mine. My actions are in my hands. Say that every time your mind (or body) thinks about food when you're not physically hungry.

3. It's Up To You.

You need to convince yourself that losing weight is your choice and if you choose not to do it then that is your choice too. Decide which choice you want to make.

4. Picture Yourself As If Your Habits Are Even Worse Than They Are.

Use your imagination to help you change your bad habits. In your mind build an exaggerated video of you raiding the fridge, the freezer, the cupboards. See yourself stuffing yourself, you can't get the wrappers off quickly enough. Make the image funny and sad. Whenever you feel like eating but you're not hungry then rerun that video and laugh.

5. Picture Yourself As If You've Conquered Your Habit.

Now for a more positive video, see yourself sylph-like. Hear yourself at a party saying "no thank you, I'm not hungry." Picture yourself in the gym; buying clothes - make the success scene vivid.

6. Put The Food Out Of Reach.

Make food hard to get to.

7. Don't Buy Trigger Foods.

Are there any foods that you know full well that once you start, you can't stop eating? These are your trigger foods. Decide that you won't buy them for a little while. This is not the same as never eating tasty food! Choose tasty food that doesn't have quite that extreme effect on you.

8. List Alternative Strategies: General.

Get out pen and paper and write down what you can do when you want to take a break instead of eating. Think laterally. You might send an e-mail to someone for support, join a Diet Buddies forum (http://www.thedietcoach.com), or call someone who can help you.

9. List Alternative Strategies: Fitness.

Including fitness in your alternative strategies is a double benefit: you avoid eating and expend energy at the same time - the perfect combination. What could be better?

10. Allow Yourself Special Treats Sometimes.

Deprivation doesn't work. If you're a chocoholic, then look forward to one time in the week when you have a small piece. Nibble, make it last, and know that you can have more next week.

This piece was written by Dr Judy Citron, PhD in Cognitive Psychology, Diet Coach, who can be reached at JudyCitron@aol.com
 

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