During the holidays things can get pretty hectic. The other day after a session with a client I went out shopping and by the time I got home I was starving. I was hungry before I left but didn’t want to take the time to eat. The result was low blood sugar. By the time I got home I was ready to eat anything in sight. I wanted cheese and chocolate. It was hard for me to eat something healthy. My willpower was depleted. In this video I explain how eating the right food at the right time feeds your willpower making it stronger. I love the idea that you can feed your will power. If you prefer to read instead of watching the video the script is below.
Today I want to talk to you about willpower and food. Willpower is a popular topic in human psychology because experts have found it is one of the most important attributes for success in life.
A 2011 study found most people felt lack of willpower was the reason they couldn’t make positive changes in their life. That means many people think if they had more willpower they would be able to lose weight and stay healthier.
A study done by research psychologist Roy Baumeister found that willpower could be strengthened. He discovered it is something we all have but it needs to be fed and like a muscle it needs to be exercised.
Louise Hay says everything is thoughts and food and I agree with her. When people come to her and say, “I’m having a hard time sticking to my affirmations They don’t seem to work for me so what can I do?” Louise’s reply is “what did you have for breakfast?” You might think that is an odd answer but the truth is what you eat changes how you think, how you feel, how focused you are and how happy you are. Since this is true then what you eat also affects your willpower
When I reduced my sugar intake, and by that I mean eating less fruit, less flour products, not just the refined white stuff, which I rarely eat and I added in more healthy fats I no longer had to use willpower to not eat after dinner, nor did I have to limit my snacking. I just simply didn’t want to. The battle was over. What happened was I had better blood sugar balance. I know this because I test my fasting blood sugar at home regularly.
The Baumeister study showed willpower needs to be fed because it relies on blood sugar.
If you have low blood sugar you have less willpower. If it is stable you have more willpower.
You have probably had the experience of getting so hungry you lose control of what you eat. I know I have. What happens is your blood sugar has dropped so much you don’t have enough willpower to make a good choice. You wind up eating chips, cheese, cookies, you know what I am talking about.
Blood sugar drops when you are hungry. If you don’t listen to your hunger you will have less willpower. If you eat when you are hungry you raise your blood sugar back to normal and are more likely to have stronger willpower.
One of the keys to strong willpower, is WHAT you eat.
If you eat foods that spike your blood sugar, you’re not creating sustained willpower. You are going to have a spike and then a drop not only in your blood sugar but in your willpower too.
If you want to have more willpower it is important to feed your body with the right foods and eat them when you are hungry. If you are dieting, depriving yourself of food, even when your body feels hungry, you are depleting your willpower.
If you don’t have good willpower there is nothing wrong with you.
It has everything to do with what you have been taught about food. You may be following a diet plan that you think is healthy but it may not be. When you eat the wrong food at the wrong time willpower alone will never be able to control your cravings.
The Nourishing Foods Winter Cleanse – Recover Your Health is a program that will feed your willpower.
You will learn to eat the right food at the right time. The protocol is designed to balance your blood sugar and heal your digestion. If you have gut dysbiosis you may experience blood sugar challenges even though you’re eating a healthy diet. As you heal your digestion you will likely find you also feel a greater strength of willpower emerging.
This cleanse will break your addiction to sugar, carbs, and salty foods.
You will strengthen your willpower and learn how to keep it strong.
Join me for the Nourishing Foods Winter Cleanse and watch your willpower soar and your cravings disappear. Click HERE for more information and to sign up
If you like this article please leave me a comment I love hearing from you.
Thank you! This made SO MUCH sense to me. Very empowering.
Hi Joann
I am thrilled you liked it. Thanks for letting me know, hearing from you inspires me.