Many of my clients are nervous about making sacrifices or changing habits in order to reach their goals. They don't want to count calories forever or feel "restricted" in what they can eat.
I get it.
While it is completely possible to enjoy your favourite foods WHILE making progress (in fact, this is exactly what I teach my clients how to do), I would be lying if I said you can have all the cake (pizza, chips, cookies, doughnuts...) you want all day, every day.
A helpful exercise to get your brain around the notion of not having something now in favour of a future outcome is to take some time to envision YOU 2.0.
Seeing yourself in the future is crucial for habit change because it provides a clear vision of the person you want to become and the life you want to lead. When you have a vivid mental image of your future self, it gives you a sense of direction and purpose, which serves to motivate and guide your actions in the present.
How to envision Future You
Imagine yourself a year or two into the future. You’re in the body you want.
What’s different about your life?
What are you doing that you can’t do now?
How do you feel?
What are you wearing?
Where are you working?
Who are your friends?
How do you spend your time?
Take the time to imagine every detail.
Then capture that vision in words, pictures, or a video/audio message. This vision of You 2.0 must be compelling enough to pull you through the tough days and get you back up when you fall down. It needs to be the north start that guides you and constantly provides direction for your choices. Remember that envisioning your future self is just one aspect of habit change. It's important to complement it with practical strategies such as...
setting goals,
breaking habits into smaller steps,
creating an environment conducive to change,
seeking support from others, and
celebrating your successes along the way.