Fix Your Bad Eating Habits with This 1 Hack

The first step to fixing your bad eating habits starts with asking yourself the right questions and challenging your own beliefs. Here’s how.

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What subjects did you dislike most in school?

For me, it was math and science. Other subjects were much easier, so naturally, I liked them better. Besides, I grew up hearing that my family wasn’t good at math and science. We’re meant to be teachers or lawyers or find other ways to avoid numbers, equations, and Greek letters.

I muddled my way through those subjects in elementary school and junior high.

Then 10th grade happened. I feel anxious just thinking about the green chalkboard cluttered with white numbers and Greek letters, those creaky metal desks, and Mrs. W’s disapproving look when she handed back my graded quizzes.

I was way over my head

Advanced math was way too much for me. So I soothed my wounded ego with the knowledge that some people – like my family – aren’t good at math and science. And I swore I’d never take another math class again.

But what about college?

Somehow I satisfied the college math requirement with a logic course. Professors called it dummy math. I wasn’t offended (too much) because, well heck, I just wasn’t good at math or science. It’s not like I could do anything about it, right? And I barely put in any effort in my 3 science requirements because I believed it wouldn’t help.

Fast forward a few years when I had conquered my weight problem and wanted so badly to learn about the science of nutrition. Science of nutrition. Science requires math. If I were to launch into a new career, I would have to learn math and science. And lots of it.

Guess who rocked those classes from algebra to chem 3 to organic chem to biochem and beyond? Yep, I proved my parents wrong. And I proved Mrs. W wrong too. And myself! I could learn math and science. Holy smokes, I even became a chemistry tutor while in graduate school.

What does this have to do with bad eating habits?

This story popped into my mind a few minutes ago when speaking to a reporter about eating strategies for people with diabetes and prediabetes. I told her people have strong beliefs about themselves that aren’t true. And these false beliefs hold them back from living their best lives. Like I believed I couldn’t excel in math and science. That turned out to be a big fat lie!

These are the types of things people say to me.

I’m not the kind of person who can keep potato chips in the house without gorging on the entire bag.

I can’t keep myself from finishing the butter pecan ice cream no matter what size the carton is.

I hate exercise, so I’ll never find a routine I can stick with.

Even though people are telling me about exercise and bad eating habits, these comments sound a lot like “I’m not the kind of person who’s good at math or science.” These self-limiting beliefs keep us living and playing small. My gosh, I can’t imagine what my life would be like if I didn’t go back to school to study nutrition. I LOVE my career! I’ve had a BIG career.

Here’s something really cool

I changed a lot of my beliefs.

I used to ban both chocolate and peanut butter from the house because “I was the kind of person who couldn’t control myself if I knew they were nearby.” I didn’t enjoy exercise. Now I jog daily. I wasn’t somebody who would ever meditate. Dang, I love those quiet minutes to myself and my thoughts.

Bust past your limiting beliefs & fix your bad eating habits

Your limiting beliefs shape your behaviors. Just like mine being lousy at math and science led me to graduate with a degree in advertising when I had so many other interests. And if I’d allowed myself to explore those interests – maybe actually learn some science – my world would have been so much bigger faster.

Use these 4 steps to fix your bad eating habits.

#1 Identify your self-limiting beliefs

Ask yourself where you have consistent challenges – like portion control of “taboo foods” or eating enough veggies or getting regular exercise. And ask yourself where you’re playing small and living small. I was playing it safe with a job in marketing that I hated until I decided my belief about my math and science abilities was simply a belief – not a fact.

#2 Add the word yet

Next time you hear yourself saying “I’m not the kind of person who …,” or “I can’t do that because …,” add the word yet.

I’m not yet someone who’s able to be around a bag of potato chips without eating too much.

I can’t yet keep myself from finishing the butter pecan ice cream.

I haven’t yet found an exercise routine I stick with.

I haven’t yet developed math skills.

#3 Create a Gateway Goal

A Gateway Goal brings you success quickly, which builds more success. You’ll watch your confidence grow, and create even more success. Pretty soon, you won’t be able to say you aren’t the kind of person who will never be able to keep chips in the house or you aren’t the kind of person who will ever eat enough vegetables.

#4 Keep easy as your best friend

I rarely keep ice cream or baked goods in the house and I limit chocolate to just a couple types. It’s not because I’m not the kind of person who can control herself or that I hear sugary foods whispering my name everywhere I go. It’s because it’s easier. Just easier. Willpower is limited, so I’m not going to use it up when I have better and easier ways to reach my goals.