Monday, December 26, 2011

21 Days To A New Habit


 Husband and I are watching tv yesterday morning. Upon viewing a Jenny Craig commercial:

Me: "This is the time of year where weight loss and gym commercials are flooding the tv."

Husband: "Better than those Lexus and jewelry store commercials before Christmas that tell you if you don't buy her a car or a diamond for Christmas you are a piece of ****."

( Needless to say, I didn't get a car OR a diamond for Christmas... )

This IS the time of year where people start thinking about New Year's Resolutions. Most of the time, these impulses are half heartedly undertaken, without a serious commitment to change. Do you want something different this year? Do you want to start eating healthier? Do you want to shed old habits that are holding you back physically and emotionally? Do you want to make your Clean Eating better? I've written in the past of 10 Healthy "Pre-Clean Eating" Habits  for people who are just discovering Clean Eating.
How about it? Give one of these habits a try for 21 days. You can start today. You can start on January 1. It is up to you. 

The "21 Day Habit Theory" has its supporters and nay-sayers. Essentially, the theory states:



"Brain circuits take engrams (memory traces), and produce neuroconnections and neuropathways only if they are bombarded for 21 days in a row. This means that our brain  does not accept ?new? data for a change of habit unless  it is repeated each day for 21 days (without missing a day)."

I'm not entirely sure if the above neurochemistry is correct. I'm not a neurobiologist nor do I play one on tv. However, I do know that habits are only habits if they are done repeatedly and consistently. I do know the quote "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit" attributed to Aristotle makes perfect sense.

If you read my blog on a semi-regular basis, you are at least interested in improving your nutrition. You know in your logical brain it is the right path. The flesh, however, likes that Diet Coke a bit too much.
I challenge you to take 21 days and try. Sincerely try to change a bad habit. Pick one thing from the list of 10 Healthy Pre-Clean Eating Habits link above that you aren't already doing now, and really try for just 21 days.

You can post here what you are going to focus upon. You can keep it to yourself. The point is to try. The point is to set your feet in the right direction.