For as long as I can remember, I have heard it said that it takes 21 days to make create or break a habit but I’ve never really bought into that theory. Maybe to create a new habit, it might work. For example maybe if I decided to walk every day for 21 days I might start seeing the benefits and logically think I should continue. And, I do believe that if I did it long enough it would become instinctual and I would automatically do it without giving it a second thought. But for getting rid of bad habits, I just don’t believe 21 days will do it. I mean, after all, I did not form my bad eating habits in 21 days; it was a lifetime of choosing my favorite foods over my not so favorite foods. Choosing hamburgers over fish, chips over vegetables and cheese over EVERYTHING.
So I asked myself, after 21 days have I changed my bad eating habits? No, not yet. But I continue to think about my food choices, choosing fish over hamburger, vegetables over chips and no cheese on ANYTHING. I have to admit, it hasn’t been easy. And, as I sat watching my networking group eat bacon, eggs, oatmeal, croissants, fruit and more it made me want to give into some of my bad eating habits. (For the record, I did not give in. I drank my Mango protein drink and was just fine! Still 100% compliant with the program.)
The great part is that I realize I am not giving up those things FOREVER, I am readjusting my metabolism and in a few months I will be making healthy food choices without having to consciously think about what I should choose as opposed to what I want to choose.
Most importantly…in 21 days I’ve lost 10 pounds and 7-1/2” and people are starting to notice. It’s nice to have people not only notice but show their support…now THAT’S a habit I could enjoy and I bet it wouldn’t take me 21 days to get into that one!
Until next time…