Last fall when I was training for the NYC Marathon, I wrote a post on reframing negative thoughts. I think that the power of positive thinking can really help make you a success and that the opposite is also true. I also wrote a post on the power of saying “don’t” versus “can’t”. Framing choices – especially about making healthy food or life decisions – is critical. Instead of saying “I can’t eat/do that”, you give yourself more power and choice by saying, “I don’t eat/do that”.
I really liked Amanda from Run to the Finish’s Clean and Lean email on reframing weekends when it comes to eating cleaner. A confession before I share this post… I have been avidly devouring the content that Amanda shares every day, but I have not dedicated my self to the challenge. [Read: I have been devouring lots of stuff that is neither clean nor lean.] I have been focusing on trying to eat more whole foods. However, I have been struggling with sugar cravings/mindless eating. Alas, that is another post for another day.
Regarding reframing weekends and thoughts about eating healthy, Amanda writes:
“It’s usually not intentional that weekends become a time of going “off track”, but the trend does seem to be consistent. It’s also usually preceded by a number of excuses or fear statements.
- How can I eat healthy when we are at the lake?
- How can I pass up cake when everyone is having it?
- I just want to enjoy myself and not worry about food.
- It’s too hard to do it when we go out.
Here are some examples of reframing that she offers:
- How can I possibly do this = How can I most easily do this
- This is going to be so hard = I love a good challenge
- I deserve to eat what I want = I deserve to feel great
My thoughts can definitely sabotage me. I certainly use the “well I ran x miles or did this workout, so I deserve it” excuse too often. I have been running a ton of races this year and have definitely noticed the “how can I…?” or even worse “why would I need to…?” thoughts creeping in. And it shows in the way my clothes feel and how I feel about my body overall. This post was a kick in the pants for me. And, I am not waiting until July 1 or Monday or after the next race. I am starting now. I will try to use Amanda’s advice to reframe my thoughts about eating clean most of the time from “not yet” or “not now because…” to “this is the way I do things the majority of the time so I feel better.”
Who is with me? What do you do to reframe negative thoughts about food or exercise?