The Freedom of Choice

This past Monday I decided to jump back on program and try to lose these last 10 lbs. which would put me at my wedding day weight. I'll admit I have been afraid of that number because... well, I really don't want to be a psycho, cranky, freak that is in a constant state of "hangry".  I got to thinking that maybe since I have been able to keep off these 50 lbs for 6 months, perhaps I can use the habits of health that I have learned and keep off these 10 lbs too. My second and main reason for starting up on program again though is that I want to have a plan for the holidays that keeps me disciplined and includes entering 2017 without food regrets. 

So far, 4 days into program, I have been reminded what its like to first set out on this journey. There have been days that this has been easy and several moments where it was hard and I found myself needing to chose health over the temptation. There have been moments where I have been hungry and even more when I have been surprised again by how little I felt hungry throughout the day. There was the time span where I felt the "ketosis flu" set in and today I enjoyed a day full of the energy that I remembered enjoying when I first started this last January. But most importantly, I have been reminded of how important the power of choice is in my quest for health. 

One of the things I love about TSFL is that this program isn't about being forbidden from certain foods... rather it focuses on making the best decision to reach your ultimate goal. I'm never going to tell you that you can't eat bread/candy/cake - but I will encourage you to realize that if you make that choice you will most likely kick yourself out of ketosis and detour yourself from your fundamental goal which is the reason you are doing TSFL to start with. 

If you haven't yet had the chance, I want to encourage you to read the section regarding choices from Dr. A's Habits of Health (pg. 25-36) These pages discuss our fundamental, primary and secondary choices. Understanding how our choices effect our goals is super important. As a brief overview, these types of choices are:

Fundamental Choice: "The choice upon which all other choices rest." (pg. 28) For many of us in this program our fundamental choice is to live free from fear and find optimal health.

Primary Choice: "A major choice - something we want more than other things that we may also want. " (pg. 25) The example in the book is making a choices between optimal health or a banana split. 

Secondary Choice: "The action we take to support our primary choice, even if we don't want to." (pg. 25)  An example of a secondary choices would be choosing to go to the gym at 6am even though you would prefer to be sleeping, because you know it's the only time you can actually get a workout in.

So, here's a personal example of weighing out choices which helps us make a life long change in our relationship with food: I see a bowl of my favorite candy - peach rings - and I'm pretty sure they want me to eat them. (Yes, that fake gummy, sugar coated, ring candy that you can get for $1 at the gas station. They are my weakness.) 

• First, I remind myself that I have made the fundamental choice to strive toward optimal health.
• Second, I recognize that I am being faced with the primary choice of  quickly devouring those beautiful peach rings OR  the choice to continue my efforts toward optimal health. 
• Third, I make the secondary choice to walk away from the peach rings and go find somebody to talk to and maybe refill my water glass. 

These choices are not easy. Shoot, if this was easy, EVERYONE would be skinny and in shape and our society would be healthy rather sick and obese.  Yet while it is not easy, it IS possible. You can do it. I can do it. WE can do this! 

In my TSFL journey the single best thing my health coach Kristen ever told me was, "I didn't lose 80 lbs by cheating." Those words hit me hard and I made the decision to train my brain to hear her words in my head whenever I found my fundamental choice being challenged. I'll admit there was a moment where her words made me question if I was actually capable of this... but heck, if she could do it so could I. 

So here we go friends... 

Thanksgiving is less than a week away and we will be full swing into the holiday season with parties, special meals, treats and endless temptations surrounding us. And we will have lots of choices to make. Nothing is forbidden... you are free to make whatever choice you feel is best for you. I want to encourage you to nail down your fundamental choice/goal and play out in your head what primary and secondary choices you plan to make. 

We can do this friends! I believe in each and every one of you and know that you all deeply desire to be healthy. The choice is in your hands!

Happy Thanksgiving, 

Kelly

PS - If you didn't get a chance to participate in this weeks Habits of Health call here's the link to the recording of the "Thriving Through the Holidays" Zoom: https://vimeo.com/191581590/293b663582

PPS - Be sure to check out our TSFL Team Fillmore FaceBook page for weekly contests and ways to earn $$$ toward your TSFL account. (There is a contest this week regarding the tools in this call (posted Nov. 14th). Be sure to submit your answer soon as the contest ends this weekend.