Designing a positive behavior to prepare for a particular situation is sometimes called “priming.” In the case of the temptation to overeat, for example, the priming ritual might be something like “When I am tempted by dessert, I will have a piece of fruit instead.”
—“The Power of Full Engagement”
The example is pretty much the main priming issue I have right now. Not in a metaphorical information diet kind of way. Just in the literal I-snack-too-much way.
The thing that works best, of course, is just getting rid of snacks in the house altogether. Which I’ve done to some degree. I’ve definitely toned dow. The Trader Joe’s trips that end up being 90% snack purchases.
Whole meals only.
At least at home. Once I step out the door, it’s another story.
So I do need to start writing some priming rituals for hanging out with friends. If I get tempted to order something that tastes great, I’ll order a sad salad instead.
I did make it up to Buena Vista Park again.
[[TK post that pic]]
Maybe the strategy will be focusing on increasing activity. 5 trips up and down if I’m going to see friends later that day. Or at least 1 trip. I can also schedule some of the heavy lifting days for Friday and Sunday to tackle two temptation days.
Actually, maybe that’s worth trying.
So I can treat a workout and do something like:
- Tuesday: Cardio
- Wednesday: Incline/Squat
- Thursday: Cardio
- Friday: Press/Deadlift
- Saturday: Cardio
- Sunday: Incline/Squat
- Monday: Rest or walk
At some point I’ll reconcile the whole thing where I want to write a public fitness journal with it being sort of not exactly in line with the other content on this site.
But today is not that day.
(Or I can just take some solace in that Mike Matthews successfully mixes book takeaway episodes in the main feed of his Muscle For Life podcast.)
There’s that 12-minute timer. See you at the bottom.