A few weeks ago, right smack in the middle of the day, the opportunity to ride a Segway was presented to me. I had no idea it would teach me a valuable lesson in how to get over cravings.

I had never ridden one before but I knew I really wanted to do it. Unfortunately, my schedule was pretty packed that afternoon and evening…

DAMN! What to do?

Well, I began adjusting my schedule so I could make it happen. However, I’d be squeezing it in between two things I couldn’t miss.

Until…

My friend suggested I do it the next day!

“TOMORROW?!?!”

I was so caught up in the moment, that didn’t even occur to me. I was so pumped up! I HAD to ride the Segway THAT day. NOT the following day. I wanted to ride it RIGHT THEN AND THERE!

Once I realized that I’d be cutting it very close with my schedule, I decided the following morning would have to suffice.

**

I’m a big believer in scheduling events or creating things to look forward to. Anticipation is a HUGE key to happiness. When it comes to happiness there are four stages: Anticipation, savoring the actual event or moment as we experience it, expressing our pleasure to ourselves or those with us, and reflecting on the fun and happy memory.

I think my favorite stage of happiness is…wait for it….hold on….give me a second…anticipation. (See what I just did there?)

Anticipation can make our lives better. And sometimes, I enjoy the anticipation of an event MORE so than the actual event I’m anticipating! (And I’m okay with that!)

Whether it’s planning trips or figuring out fun plans for the week or weekend, setting things up for ourselves to look forward to will absolutely make us happier.

I try to create anticipation in my life as often as possible. (In fact, I’ve been looking forward to writing this VERY piece for a few weeks now. But I purposely waited.)

**

Question: If you had the chance to go to your favorite vacation spot this weekend or in four weeks, what would you choose?

I’d choose going away in four weeks. Want to know why? This way, I get to look forward to the vacation for FOUR WHOLE weeks! It’s like a four week vacation PLUS the vacation itself.

Question: If you had the chance to go to your favorite restaurant today or in two weeks from now, what would you choose?

I’d choose going in two weeks from now. Why? Because I get to look forward to my favorite meal for two whole weeks!

Question: If you had the chance to indulge in your favorite junk food today or this weekend, what would you choose?

I’d choose this weekend. Why? Because I can anticipate how tasty that junk food will be all week long!

**

I’m an idea guy. I have binders full of ideas. And before I started MyBodyTutor back in February of 2007 (crazy, it’s been 6+ years!), I was constantly thinking about ideas I wanted to pursue. But only one kept popping up again and again and again. Only one actually caused me to not be able to sleep because I was SO excited by it. The others? If it wasn’t for my binder, they’d be long gone out of my memory.

The point? Sometimes, ideas don’t seem all that compelling after we noodle on them for a while. And it’s a wise idea to noodle on them – otherwise, we’ll do things without really thinking it through.

**

When I finally went on the Segway that following day – I was thrilled. I had an absolute blast. And the best part was that I got to look forward to it the whole day before.

Sometimes, we gotta delay instant gratification for future happiness!

**

Feel like eating your favorite unhealthy food because it’s been a long day/week?

What if you decide that you’ll strategically allow yourself (I say strategically because this is a conscious choice, not an impulsive one) to indulge in a few days time?

In fact, planning ahead when you’re going to eat your favorite junk is a very strategic move. It allows us to anticipate eating it AND it also allows us to PAUSE before we give in. Plus, knowing that we’ll be indulging soon makes the temporary discomfort more tolerable.

The coolest part is that by then we’ll have so much momentum on our side, that we usually don’t even want to indulge. And what if we still really want to? At least it was a mindful choice that gave us an extra boost of happiness (having something to look forward to) and it gave us a compelling reason to not give in right away.

So next time you want to indulge why not “Segway It,” until later on. (ALERT! Yes, that is the new term to help us get over cravings.)

I anticipate reading your emails already. I really wanted cookies but I decided to “Segway It” until this weekend and if I still really want them, I’ll allow myself to have a few, guilt free.

##

Starting a diet is easy. Sticking with it is very hard.

When was the last time you stuck with a diet?

MBT helps you actually stick with your diet and/or exercise plans by providing daily and personal accountability like no other service in the world. This is why we get the results we do. Learn more now by clicking here.

“Do I want this?” “No, I don’t want this!” “Do I want this?” “No, I don’t!” “How many calories is it?” You don’t want this!” “I deserve this!” “Eh, screw it, I’m just going to eat it!” “Actually, is this really worth it?” “I shouldn’t eat this…” “It’s been a long day!”

This internal chatter can be EXTREMELY taxing.

It’s a pure battle between our long term, rational mind versus our short term, irrational mind.

It’s Dr. Jekyllllllll versus Mr. Hydeeee.

It’s our Body Tutor versus the devil on our shoulder.

Whatever you want to call it —–> it’s freakin’ taxing, and this internal debate can drive us crazy.

The weird reason why we might actually be eating junk food —-> because we’re so sick of ‘listening’ to it! And we know that if we give in, and just eat whatever it is we’re obsessing over, we won’t have to listen to this internal debate anymore.

What I’m saying is that we might not even REALLY want the junk we’re eating. What we might really want is peace and quiet!

Jessica, a client, writes this to me:

“I made the decision to eat like crap today. Because I’ve been thinking about it for a few days and I just don’t want to think about it anymore. It’s like what you were saying about the candy. I just ate to shut-up my food desires.”

Don’t you find this fascinating?

Because what we’re really after isn’t necessarily the food. Food, as much as we like to think it might, will NEVER give us what we’re truly after.

So, what can we do about this?

QUESTION: if you were watching TV with a little kid and suddenly something very graphic and disturbing appeared what would you do?

I think, you’d change the channel as fast as you possibly could, right?

As soon as we find ourselves starting to negotiate with ourselves we have a chance to turn it off. We have a chance to change that channel. We can choose to focus on something else. And that’s the key!

Because in this moment, we’re focusing our attention ONLY on the temptation in front of us or in our mind.

What would happen if going forward, instead of only focusing on our self in that moment, we focused on other things?

Thinking about this BEFORE we’re in the moment, is what makes this possible because after all, the moment IS the moment. It’s hard to control what we do in the moment. But, if there’s an emergency, we all know how to call 911 – even though we may never have in the moment, right?

How to practice: Right now whatever you’re thinking about, change that channel and think about this riddle: You throw away the outside and cook the inside. Then you eat the outside and throw away the inside. What did you eat?

Suddenly, you’re no longer thinking about what you were before reading this. You’re wondering what the heck food is he talking about?

Bingo. That’s the idea. We just completed changed our focus.

Next time you feel yourself starting to negotiate with yourself, try to think about something else. The key is to immerse ourselves in something else. To focus our attention elsewhere.

##

Starting a diet is easy. Sticking with it is very hard.

When was the last time you stuck with a diet?

MBT helps you actually stick with your diet and/or exercise plans by providing daily and personal accountability like no other service in the world. This is why we get the results we do. Learn more now by clicking here.

Sometimes it’s important to get back to the basics. Sometimes it’s easy to forget why we’re embracing the discomfort and why discomfort is our compass.

Meaning sometimes it’s easy to forget why the heck we’re not eating those goodies or why the heck we’re going to the gym even though we don’t feel like it.

Let me remind you why.

Actually, let’s let Chris Paul remind us why.

Chris Paul, the all-star point guard for the Los Angeles Clippers, said this after winning 11 straight games this season:

“It’s good when you win. I told everyone on the team, the food tastes better. The music sounds better. You sleep a little bit better. Everything is a little bit better when you win. We just have to keep it going.”

Even if you’re not a basketball fan this resonates.

I don’t know Chris Paul personally but I’m sure he’s a fairly happy guy. While I’m projecting just a bit — he is in the NBA living a life many only dream of. Life is fairly good for him, no matter what…

Life is BETTER for him, though, when he and his team are winning.

**

Let me ask you a question…when are you happier?

I’m not saying I’m not happy when I’m eating a burger and fries. I’m not saying I’m not happy when I’m eating ice cream. No. Not at all. That makes me happy. (At least, while I’m eating it.)

I’m saying I’m happier when I eat healthfully.

I’m not saying I’m not happy when I’m lounging around watching TV. That’s fun.

I’m saying I’m happier when I’m moving around and enjoying my fitness. That’s more fun.

I’m not saying I’m not happy when I have a great meal and overeat because the food is just so memorable.

I’m saying I’m happier when I leave the table feeling satisfied and not stuffed.

When are you happier?

Everything is better when we’re taking control of our health and fitness. Why? In short: Because we FEEL better — as uncomfortable as it might be in the moment to skip the temptation.

Satisfaction > Pleasure.

Keep that in mind this week.

How do you want to feel?

Now before you choose something — ask yourself: “Is this going to make me feel the way I really want to?”

##

Are you ready to feel like you’re in control of your health and fitness? Are you ready to finally stick with your diet and exercise in 2013? Why not try a proven program that is 100% guaranteed or your money back. I believe in what I offer that much!

Click here to learn more now.

Total reading time: 3 minutes.

With the holidays rapidly approaching, and temptations everywhere, I wanted to share with you how I get over cravings and urges and temptations.

Do yourself a favor…

Don’t read this until you have 3 minutes of uninterrupted time. Like all my emails, I worked very hard on this, and I tried to make it as useful as possible.

Let’s get to it…

A few weeks ago, right smack in the middle of the day, the opportunity to ride a Segway was presented to me. I had never ridden one before but I knew I really wanted to do it. Unfortunately, my schedule was pretty packed that afternoon and evening…

DAMN! What to do?

Well, I began adjusting my schedule so I could make it happen. However, I’d be squeezing it in between two things I couldn’t miss.

Until…

My friend suggested I do it the next day!

“TOMORROW?!?!”

I was so caught up in the moment, that didn’t even occur to me. I was so pumped up! I HAD to ride the Segway THAT day. NOT the following day. I wanted to ride it RIGHT THEN AND THERE!

Once I realized that I’d be cutting it very close with my schedule, I decided the following morning would have to suffice.

**

I’m a big believer in scheduling events or creating things to look forward to. Anticipation is a HUGE key to happiness. When it comes to happiness there are four stages: Anticipation, savoring the actual event or moment as we experience it, expressing our pleasure to ourselves or those with us, and reflecting on the fun and happy memory.

I think my favorite stage of happiness is…wait for it….hold on….give me a second…anticipation. (See what I just did there?)

Anticipation can make our lives better. And sometimes, I enjoy the anticipation of an event MORE so than the actual event I’m anticipating! (And I’m okay with that!)

Whether it’s planning trips or figuring out fun plans for the week or weekend, setting things up for ourselves to look forward to will absolutely make us happier.

I try to create anticipation in my life as often as possible. (In fact, I’ve been looking forward to writing this VERY piece for a few weeks now. But I purposely waited.)

**

Question: If you had the chance to go to your favorite vacation spot this weekend or in four weeks, what would you choose?

I’d choose going away in four weeks. Want to know why? This way, I get to look forward to the vacation for FOUR WHOLE weeks! It’s like a four week vacation PLUS the vacation itself.

Question: If you had the chance to go to your favorite restaurant today or in two weeks from now, what would you choose?

I’d choose going in two weeks from now. Why? Because I get to look forward to my favorite meal for two whole weeks!

Question: If you had the chance to indulge in your favorite junk food today or this weekend, what would you choose?

I’d choose this weekend. Why? Because I can anticipate how tasty that junk food will be all week long!

**

I’m an idea guy. I have binders full of ideas. And before I started MyBodyTutor back in February of 2007 (crazy, it has been almost 6 years!), I was constantly thinking about ideas I wanted to pursue. But only one kept popping up again and again and again. Only one actually caused me to not be able to sleep because I was SO excited by it. The others? If it wasn’t for my binder, they’d be long gone out of my memory.

The point? Sometimes, ideas don’t seem all that compelling after we noodle on them for a while. And it’s a wise idea to noodle on them – otherwise, we’ll do things without really thinking it through.

**

When I finally went on the Segway that following day – I was thrilled. I had an absolute blast. And the best part was that I got to look forward to it the whole day before.

Sometimes, we gotta delay instant gratification for future happiness.

**

Feel like eating your favorite unhealthy food because it’s been a long day?

What if you decide that you’ll strategically allow yourself (I say strategically because this is a conscious choice, not an impulsive one) to indulge in a few days time?

What if you decided to wait until Christmas eve or Christmas day?

In fact, planning ahead when you’re going to eat your favorite indulgence is a very strategic move. It allows us to anticipate eating it AND it also allows us to PAUSE before we give in. Plus, knowing that we’ll be indulging soon makes the temporary discomfort more tolerable.

The coolest part is that by then we’ll have so much momentum on our side, that we usually don’t even want to indulge. And what if we still really want to? At least it was a mindful choice that gave us an extra boost of happiness (having something to look forward to) and it gave us a compelling reason to not give in right away.

So next time you want to indulge why not “Segway It,” until later on. (ALERT! That is my new term to help us get over cravings.)

I anticipate reading it on your daily reports already. I really wanted those cookies but I decided to “Segway It” until Christmas eve or Christmas Day, and if I still really want them, I’ll allow myself to have a few, guilt free.