It is the season of Lent. A lot of people choose to give something up this time of year.
And all throughout the year, people are trying to avoid eating junk food, cut out sugar, stop drinking alcohol, etc...
Those are what Dr. John Berardi calls Avoid Goals. They are goals that push you away from your current pain.
It could be goals like giving up sugar or they could be goals like wanting to avoid being out of shape or avoiding being on medication.
These are usually very tough goals to follow through on. Because one slip up and you become a "screw-up". Once you feel like a failure it is very common for people to quit.
Instead, I would recommend what Dr. Berardi calls Approach Goals.
These are goals that pull you toward a goal. These go along great with the Behavior Goals we have discussed recently.
Approach goals are all about making you feel good, successful, and inspired about the process. And unlike the avoid way where you feel deprived, approach goals give you something to replace the old habits.
Some examples from Dr. Berardi's "Change Maker" book:
-"no junk food", instead focus on eating more cut up fruits and vegetables
-"no soda", instead drink a glass of water at every meal
-"no stress eating", focuses on performing stress
-relieving activities
So if you have been trouble avoiding things, try this new approach!
If you would like to reach your exercise and nutrition goals from the comfort of your own home, you are a good candidate for my Online Coaching program. You can learn more here --->Joe At Home