Q: What is the best mindset for staying committed to your own health?
A: I don’t treat health like motivation. I treat it like identity. This is just what I do because it’s who I am.
When health becomes part of your routine, decisions stop feeling like constant discipline battles. The decision has already been made because it’s just who you are and what you do. Daily exercise isn’t a decision; it’s just part of the daily schedule, like brushing your teeth or getting dressed. Eating healthy isn’t a constant battle of will; it’s a lifestyle choice.
My initial motivation stems from a desire to stay involved with my children. If my kids ever want to do physically challenging things, whether it’s now or in the future, I want to be able to say yes. From riding bikes, to slalom skiing at the lake, to hiking up a mountain or surfing in the ocean, I want to be able to participate in their lives and tell them yes if they want me to play with them.
The nutrition system that works for me:
- I don’t rely on motivation. I rely on routines. Motivation is inconsistent. My habits aren’t.
- I eat real, identifiable foods and mostly plants. I love to eat the rainbow.
- I don’t aim for perfect workouts. I aim to show up even if it’s not my best performance, just to keep moving.
- I pay attention to liquid calories. They add up quicker than people think. I don’t drink my calories.
- I think of food as a way to fuel my body. I pay attention to how food makes me feel. Does it give me energy to perform or brain power to focus?
- I make fiber a priority so I’m actually full, not just snacking.
- I don’t finish my kids’ food out of reflex. I’m not the human trash can.
- I protect my sleep. My kids have a bedtime and so do I.