Why Do I Have Zero Willpower At Night?

How is it possible to start your day off strong and with the best intentions, only to find yourself face first in a bag of chips by the end of the night? I know I have certainly been there. It turns out that willpower is a limited resource. Every time you have to make a decision or are faced with a stressful situation or bash yourself with negative self talk, your willpower is reduced. We each start off our day with renewed willpower, but with all of life’s stressors, we are usually left with zero by the end of the day.

So what is a person to do?? If willpower isn’t a reliable tool in the quest for weight loss, there must be a better way. Over the years I have found a few things that have supported me much more effectively than willpower.

1.  Habit. Creating healthy habits that I schedule every single day, no matter what, helps me to stay on track. I schedule my exercise, I schedule time to food prep, I schedule time to plan a menu for the week…..my planning sessions have become a habit and following my written plan has become a habit. I take it as seriously as I would  having to show up for a doctor appointment. 
2.  Have a plan for unforeseen barriers. Everyone runs into situations that are not planned for. How you handle that situation is what makes all of the difference. I like to distract myself with a meaningful vision of what I am working towards. I always have some health or fitness goals set, and tapping into my “why” helps me to turn down those unforeseen bumps in the road.
3. Controlling my home environment. Let’s face it, we all have control of what we bring into our homes. If you are a certified chip-a-holic, don’t bring them into the house. Avoiding the food that you are the weakest around eliminates it as a threat and will help keep you on your plan without the agony of having to resist it all of the time. Setting your home environment up for success is one of the easiest ways to not have to rely on willpower. 

I hope these tips are helpful to you in your quest for weight loss. If you would like support in making a plan for yourself, I’d love to help! Feel free to set up a free 30 minute meeting with me to get all of your questions answered. Or got to the contacts page and shoot me an email. I look forward to hearing from you! 

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