Holiday Willpower

This post was originally published for the Home Base Program.

For those who were not at the nutritional workshop on Monday, I wanted to share some mental strategies for supporting healthy eating.
1. If...Then... Planning
We talked about if then planning in goal setting and it really helps out short term nutrition goals. Take a moment before hand to think about if this happens then I do this. For instance: If I am tempted by a third dessert then I will play with my nieces and nephews.
2.) Healthy Habits are within your control
People who believe that their weight is something they have an influence over stay fitter over the holidays than people who believe that their weight is genetic and they have no control over it.
3.) Willpower Part 1 
Families can be stressful and stress makes us crave glucose. If you are trying to avoid certain foods stay away from stressful people. Traditional ways of being outside, breathing, and exercise all help this out, but if you are around family and friends the easiest way to combat this is to hang around people that make you laugh.
4.) Willpower Part 2
Avoid decision fatigue. Too many decisions in a day limit your ability to resist temptation or make sound decisions. Shopping is a great example of this. Supermarkets are built to cause you to suffer from decision fatigue. Cereals for example are spread out and the more you scan or compare the more likely you are to make an impulse buy. This is the same reason candy and tabloids are at checkout aisles.
5.) Bonus Tip: Small Plate
Nicole mentioned this Monday night, but the benefit of using a smaller plate helps control eating habits. Our brain likes when things are complete.