The Life-Changing Magic of Habit Building

If all we needed to lose weight (and keep it off!) was more knowledge–what to eat, how often to eat, what not to eat, etc…most people wouldn’t struggle with their weight. The problem is that there are many layers to peel back when it comes to building a lifestyle and not just losing 10 pounds that you’ll regain in a month. A healthy lifestyle is more than just education, it’s also an identity, and habit building is the price of admission.

If you’ve ever heard the saying “You Are What You Eat,” well there is another saying that says “You Eat What You Are” and in psychology it’s known as self as doer. Basically studies show that you are much more likely to behave in ways that are aligned with your identity.

So if you see yourself as a fit person, you are more likely to exercise. If you see yourself as a healthy eater, you are more likely to make healthy food choices. Our identity–who you believe yourself to be–is what creates sustainable change.

Of course it works the other way too…

If you see yourself as unmotivated, you will continue to skip the gym when you don’t feel like going. 
If you think of yourself as an unhealthy eater, it will be easier to plow through a box of donuts because it aligns with who you believe yourself to be. 

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So then, how do we break free of the negative identity boxes we’ve created that aren’t serving us and create healthy ones that do?

We do it by building new habits.

Habit Building

If you haven’t read Atomic Habits, by James Clear, I highly recommend it! He writes about the relationship between identity and habits and how to create lasting change. In the book he states…

Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become. No single instance will transform your beliefs, but as the votes build up, so does the evidence of your new identity. This is one reason why meaningful change does not require radical change. Small habits can make a meaningful difference by providing evidence of a new identity… 

The most practical way to change who you are is to change what you do.

Each time you write a page, you are a writer.
Each time you practice the violin, you are a musician.
Each time you start a workout, you are an athlete.
Each time you encourage your employees, you are a leader.

New identities require new evidence. If you keep casting the same votes you’ve always cast, you’re going to get the same results you’ve always had. If nothing changes, nothing is going to change.

(James Clear, Atomic Habits) 

Here is great excerpt from his book that dives a little deeper into this topic.

Who Do You Want to Be?

Instead of focusing on the weight you want to lose, start envisioning who you want to be and what that person does. What kind of action can you take today towards being that type of person?

If you want to be a runner—go for a run today and schedule 2 more runs this week.
If you want to be a healthy eater—find a healthy breakfast you love and create a healthy eating routine starting with breakfast.
If you want to be a fit person–register for a weight-lifting class and find a lifting partner.

Start building evidence of your new identity by taking small, sustainable actions toward becoming that kind of person. The more actions you take, the more proof you will have towards the kind of person you want to be…and over time you will simply…become.

We are what we repeatedly do, Excellence therefore is not an act, but a habit.  

Aristotelian sentiment by Will Durant

We’ll talk more about building healthy habits and creating a healthy eating routine later this week, as well as strategies to handle emotional eating!

In case you missed it, here is the Fit Lifestyle Jumpstart Series Intro, Day 1, and Day 2.

Have a wonderful start to your week friends!!