Finding Your 'Why' Is A Powerful Motivator

Finding Your 'Why Not' Is The Game Changer

Finding your ‘Why’ is a powerful motivator to stay on track with your weight loss goals. For example, wanting to wear a bikini on your next holiday will motivate you to some extent, but really understanding that having a large waistline increases your risk of chronic illness and premature death, are much more tangible as motivators.

So, my approach is to focus on the 'Why' and the ‘Why Not’. 

Here’s a few examples of 'Why Not' thinking;

Why Not have fizzy drinks?

They add to your daily calorie load, often clocking up without you noticing

They have empty calories - lots of sugar, zero nutrition

They are linked to the erosion of tooth enamel

One 330ml can contains around 6 teaspoons of sugar, that's just shy of the recommended daily intake! 

Regular consumption has been linked to increased risk of heart disease 

They may cause leptin resistance - leptin is the hormone that tells us when we’re full

Why Not have alcohol?

It increases the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, liver disease, breast, mouth, throat, liver and colon cancers, as well as digestive problems.

It causes premature ageing 

It disrupts sleep

It can cause weight gain

It increases or compounds depression and anxiety

It interferes with memory and learning

UK guidelines state that one bottle of wine per day is a significant amount of alcohol, above the recommended guidelines for moderate drinking, which generally suggest no more than two standard drinks per day for men, and one standard drink per day for women

See the resources below for help and support if you feel you may have an issue with alcohol.

Why Not have sugar?

Sugar is as addictive as cocaine, triggering a similar opioid response in the brain

It causes cravings 

It causes spikes and crashes in blood glucose levels, linked to insulin resistance

It causes inflammation linked to chronic illnesses like cancer, diabetes, arthritis, and inflammatory skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis

It’s linked to belly fat

It causes ageing and skin issues like hyperpigmentation, sagging and breakouts

(Note that excessive consumption of sugar includes alternatives like sweeteners and natural sugars like honey, maple syrup and fructose, found naturally in fruit. As with all food, everything in moderation is the best approach)

Why Not have ultra processed food?

It’s been created specifically to elicit a desire to overeat and crave it over and over again

The additives and excess sugar found in ultra-processed foods can lead to a number of health issues including; heart disease, obesity, anxiety, depression, poor memory, learning difficulties, Alzheimer’s and ADHD

Your body is forced to digest artificial preservatives, sweeteners, sensory enhancers, synthetic colours, man-made flavourings and industrial oils, that it doesn’t recognise

The further a food is from its original state, the more processed it is. 

Think chicken vs chicken nuggets, fresh fish vs a fish finger, fresh veg vs a veggie burger

Knowledge is power and becoming aware of what we put into our bodies and its potential health effect, gives the opportunity to make informed decisions. It’s not about being a fun sponge, rather it’s about having a little bit, instead of a lot, of what you fancy. The decisions are easier when the ‘Why Not’ is strong. 

Resources

https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/advice-and-support/alcohol-support-services

https://alcoholchange.org.uk/