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PA Enterprise
Identify patterns you’re going to be more likely to eat them than
You’re more predictable than you realise, so if they were tucked away in a cupboard. But this
there’s probably a pattern behind the behaviour isn’t about keeping your treats under lock and
you’re trying to change. And when you identify key. It’s about visual cues influencing behaviour
the pattern, you’re halfway there to changing the and you can use that to your advantage when
habit. If you think about things you do that you creating positive new habits. If you intend to
might want to limit while you’re on a fitness kick, go to them gym, write yourself a note that says
such as eating chocolate, ordering takeaways or something like, ‘Gym, 8am’ and leave it on your
drinking beer, it’s likely that you do them either desk or stick it to the fridge - basically leave it
on the same day each week or at the same time somewhere you’ll see it multiple times a day
of day, or when you’re in a particular emotional because the more you see it the more likely you
state. are to do it.
Let’s use takeaways as an example. You might Focus on ability not motivation
be in the habit of ordering a takeaway curry It doesn’t matter how fired up you are about
every Friday night and you wash that down getting fit, if you’re not sure how to do it your
with a few beers. If that’s the case, once you’ve motivation will soon wane. That’s why it pays
identified the pattern you can plan in advance to follow a proven plan because a good plan,
how you’re going to adjust your behaviour. You created by an expert you trust, is basically like a
could, for example, say to yourself that for the roadmap to your goal. The reality is that if you
next eight weeks that you’re following a body- want to make a significant difference to your
transformation plan, you’re going to put the cash health and fitness and you’re not following a
aside that you would have spent on the meal plan then you’re going to struggle. That may
and then buy yourself something special as a sound harsh but I can’t think of a time when
reward at the end of your workout programme. I’ve seen someone get great results without
In the meantime, you could also decide to make following a structured and progressive plan. To
a homemade curry on Friday nights so you still pick the right one, go for something with proof
get the spice fix while simultaneously upgrading that it works, something that’s aimed at your
your cooking skills.
ability level, and something that feels like it was
Don’t sweat slip-ups made for you.
You can’t un-eat a biscuit. But you can sabotage Schedule your workouts
your progress by beating yourself up about The biggest thing you can do, once you have
that biscuit because negative emotion will sap your plan, is schedule your sessions in advance.
your motivation. Instead, dust off those biscuit Every Sunday, spend a couple of minutes
crumbs and focus on a positive step that you working out when you can train the following
can take towards your goal, such as completing week and write those sessions into your diary
your next workout. And once you’ve taken that as if they were immovable work commitments.
step, celebrate the mini win, because that simple If you start the week with a vague notion that
act will provoke a chemical reaction in your you’ll do three or four workouts at some point or
brain that makes it easier to repeat the positive when you get the chance, life will get in the way
behaviour in the future.
and those sessions will get missed. But if they’re
Use visual cues written down in your diary then they’re going to
happen.
If I put an open packet of sweets in front of you,
newbodyplan.co.uk
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