How to Lose Weight Series: Strong Foundational Habits

“ Any structure must have a strong foundation. The cornerstones anchor the foundation. For some reason the cornerstones that I chose to begin with, I have never changed.” John Wooden.

Many a times, I have witnessed that people start with a very good intent, fabulous goal, full of zeal but are unable to achieve the destination and stay there especially when it is not a one time event but a matter of continuous perseverance. So goals like being cheerful, losing and staying on the right weight, being positive irrespective of the circumstance, exercising daily etc seem like a distant dream.

For example: It is easier for my friend to lose 5 kgs for a particular occasion like an upcoming wedding in the family, than for her to lose and maintain that weight lifelong. So what does one do to ensure longevity of result? I have thought deeply about this specific predicament that is faced by many.

One of the main reasons we are unable to always win the battle of weight loss or maintain the right amount of weight is because of insufficient mental strength or will power or lack of habit formation.

I had just read about the benefits of tamarind and narrated the same to one of my friends, she said it’s not at all difficult for her to get this incorporated into her life. For her having sambar was a habit which automatically gave her the benefits of having the tamarind in it. So she was thrilled to know how her eating habit was actually helping her and she now prepared her “sambar” (a South Indian delicacy which has a lot of vegetables cooked in tamarind juice and Indian spices) with greater enthusiasm.

My own personal experience suggests that many of us know "what to do" to fix something but we do not build on a strong foundation that will help us keep the building up and standing for a long time. So, I will be doing a series on “Foundational Habits for Weight Loss” that will help you build an innate ability of just doing the right thing when it comes to lifestyle choices irrespective of how you “feel” at the moment.

In The Power of Habit, award-winning New York Times business reporter Charles Duhigg takes us to the thrilling edge of scientific discoveries that explain why habits exist and how they can be changed. With penetrating intelligence and an ability to distill vast amounts of information into engrossing narratives, Duhigg brings to life a whole new understanding of human nature and its potential for transformation.

Duhigg frames the psychology behind the individual habit loop in a simple three-part process. It starts with a cue (location, time of day, routines, emotional triggers) that quickly cycles into a routine (the behavior itself, whether physical, mental, or emotional) and ends with the ultimate reward (the bedrock satisfaction that drives the habit loop). He contends that if you discover the structure behind the cue, routine, and reward cycle, you can change the habit.

After assessing various habit loops that help people stay in good health and maintain weight, I will be providing the habit list which is nothing but a list of simple cues that can help you identify and incorporate into your life, to get the reward of a healthy “you.”