Kryptonite

Welcome to afitnewyou! Today I would like to help you reach your nutritional goals by tackling one of your biggest stumbling blocks. I don’t know what your specific stumbling block is, but everyone has one; its that food that you know you shouldn’t eat, but it seems to trip you up every time. For some people it’s a dessert; for others alcohol; some it could be fast food. But whatever it is, its something that you know you shouldn’t be having, something that will not help you achieve your nutritional fitness goals, but somehow it finds a way to beat you. What you need to do is treat this food like Superman would treat Kryptonite…keep it as far away from you as possible. What helps even more is if you actually envision that food as something as dangerous as Kryptonite is to Superman.

David is a client of mine who works with a personal trainer three times a week, also exercises on his own, and commendably is regularly physically active as well. While he is in better than average shape for someone his age, he often struggles losing those last several pounds, and has a hard time reaching a low enough body fat percentage to have a “six pack.” His biggest hindrance, his Kryptonite, is frozen yogurt and ice cream. He would come in one morning complaining about his stomach, and I will ask him when was the last time he went out for dessert, and almost every time, his answer was the night or two before. We have even gotten to the point where we will joke about it…when I know he had an achievement or milestone in his family, I will ask how he celebrated, and he will say he went to one of the local frozen yogurt places. What is even worse, is he is lactose intolerant…so talk about being is Kryptonite!

Like I said earlier, we all have some food that counteracts us reaching our nutritional goals. Mine for a very long time was fast food. It was cheap and easy while I was on the go, and even though I knew it was bad for me, I kept succumbing to it. Not a good thing. But what really does work to get past these foods is to envision them as something that you are simply not allowed to have, or more drastically will harm you if you do. For me personally, I have implemented these rules to a few of the foods that are my Kryptonite. For

example, it is a rule of mine that I am not allowed to buy any food sold at and/or over a convenience store counter. Similarly, I am not allowed to use a drive thru window. While this one still allows me to still eat at a “healthier” chain restaurant, it also allows me to cheat with some fast food…if I can manage myself to take the time (and shame) of walking into a fast food joint. One other rule I have for myself is I am not allowed to eat a dessert that isn’t already opened. For instance, when co-workers bring in cakes or cookies and they are wrapped up, I remind myself that the reward is not worth the effort of going through the packaging.

These are all rules that I have for myself. You need to first identify what foods are your Kryptonite. Then, you need to imagine that they are as harmful to you as Kryptonite is to Superman. If you don’t want to be as dramatic, simply make it a rule that they must remain off limits. Most of us already have these subconsciously with other foods, such as not having a dinner food for breakfast…you don’t have chicken and broccoli for breakfast because it’s kind of an unwritten rule. Or you wouldn’t crack open at beer at your work’s lunch table, because it’s not allowed. When you think of these examples, you can see how simple it can be to “rule” off certain foods…even if it means imagining them as dangerous.

Its often simple changes that you can make to your lifestyle that make the most profound impacts. Thinking and treating yourself as a superhero (Why not? It’s a good thing!) and looking at a food as your breaking point, is a good way to get in your head a system to keep to your fitness goals. Mind over matter can be a super strength to a fit new you!