Habits = Calories
The more you eat, the more calories you consume. Some foods are higher in calories than others, so if you consume higher calorie foods, more often, you’re definitely on track to gain a few pounds.
What a surprise….
Where am I going with this?
The things you do weekly or daily can be considered “habits”. Some habits can be positive and conducive to our growth, others can be detrimental.
Most of our habits as humans are created unconsciously and are ingrained in us because of the chemicals released in our brains when we do them. There is a specific part of the brain that governs habits, its name is the “Basal Ganglia”. This “ habit center is so powerful, it routinely over powers the other parts of our brain.
Your cookie eating habit as soon as you walk in the door is stronger than your ability to read 1 page of a book.
Because our brains are actually lazy, or efficient, I like to say efficient.
Thinking actually takes more energy than we realize. The two most energy demanding tissues in our bodies are our brains and our muscles.
The brain has built in structures to use less energy to help you act and move without thinking too much. When we are tired our “habit center” tends to take over, and if that habit causes a rush of brain activity ( like eating sugar does) then that habit becomes an addictive one.
Actively disrupting some parts of your routine can break terrible habits.
Here’s an example:
If you take a specific route home every Friday and that route has your favorite bar, naturally you stop in have a few drinks and watch a bit of college football before heading home. Most drinks are about 100 calories per serving, with out the sugary additives, or the fries you might get so the drinks aren’t sitting directly on your stomach.
Its starting to add up huh….
A simple way to avoid all the excess calories is to take a different way home. If your friends always come to that bar, then order water first, or order a lower calorie drink first. These simple things can disrupt your habit loop and BOOM you wont order the extra fries, or wings.
Most weight gain habits are this simple, Pay attention to your commute habits this week see where you can make simple changes.
