You have the power

I haven’t had candy for 22 days (as I gave it up for lent) and I’ve made a few observations of myself and some long-held nutritional beliefs during the past 3 weeks. Here they are in no particular order.

You’ve been told that elimination diets don’t work because eventually you’ll give into your cravings and pig out. Then your diets blown and you’ll have to start all over again or go back to your old way of eating.

Either way, you feel like a failure.

Another thing you’ve been told is willpower is a finite resource and the power it takes to give up candy, for example depletes it, so it’s harder to give up another bad habit you’ve tried to shake.

And another nutritional belief that’s commonly held is if it’s in your cupboard, you’re going to stuff it in your mouth. Because eventually you’ll need to satisfy your cravings and then after the momentary bliss is gone, you’ll feel guilty and ashamed of yourself.

This is all true but here’s the thing,  I’ve had candy in the house the entire time, with my family eating it in front of me and I haven’t flinched.

During this time of lent, I’ve also cut down on my drinking and my willpower to resist unhealthy things is still intact. Because temptation is always around and sometimes the body is weak even though the mind is willing. However, I’ve held on so far.

But why should food and what you eat hold so much power over you? You have the power to make choices that are better for you and not cling to beliefs or myths to help get through the changes you’re trying to make.

You’re stronger than you think. You have the power.

Email-shanemcleantraining@gmail.com