We wrongly but persistently expect to make different decisions tomorrow than we do today.
– Kelly McGonigal
Are you more likely to eat ice cream if it is in your freezer or if you first have to drive to the store to buy it?
We know we are more likely to eat highly addictive junk foods if they’re near us than if we have to go get them. Not that we won’t. Oh, we will get us some chocolate if we NEED some! But, if you’re on the couch watching tv, getting the hungries, are there chips in the pantry or not? Cheese in the fridge? A can of cashews you can tear into?
If it’s a few steps away, the odds of you eating it are super high if the craving strikes. It’s called being human.
How many times have you found yourself in the grocery store buying the same old foods that you always end up overeating (and regretting) because you are somehow convinced your future self is going to miraculously develop willpower that you don’t already have?
“Surely I won’t have a rough day at work this week and start scouring the cabinets for something sweet to manage the stress this time…” like I have every week for the past year (decade).
You need to give your future self a break and make it easier for her to stay on track by clearing your home of temptations. Assume the worst. She’s not going to be able to resist any junk food in the house once her willpower is gone. Help her out and don’t buy it.
And, I know this is sacrilege, but, if the junk is already in the pantry, throw it out.
*Cue the clutching of pearls…*
“But, Heather! That’s so wasteful!”
Well, your choices are:
1. That junk food you are trying not to eat goes in the trashcan or
2. That junk food goes in you… which makes YOU the trashcan.
The money is already spent. You won’t get it back by eating food that keeps you sick. If throwing food away is something you can’t stomach, give it away. Let someone else get sick from that food. At least it won’t be you! (Does that feel better?)
Your home should be a safe space. If you struggled with alcohol, I guarantee an addiction specialist would recommend you clear out the bottles of vodka. A fundamental part of weight loss is to stop eating the foods that caused you to have a weight problem in the first place. If we are surrounded by junk, we aren’t setting ourselves up for success.
Make it easier for future you – clear your home of problematic foods. If in doubt, throw it out.
Make good choices.
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