Develop the will power to stay healthy

It takes a lot of discipline to overcome the demands of your taste buds. We guide you to develop will power to overcome your addictions.

Everyone wants to be healthy, but many lack the will power to do so. Some people crave sweets, others crave fried snacks. It takes a lot of discipline to overcome the demands of your taste buds. If you generally eat healthy, your body can handle a little bit of abuse.

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However, if your cravings begin to affect your energy levels, immunity and overall health, you desperately need to develop will power to overcome your addictions. Here are a few tips.

Become aware: Just by becoming aware of the damage that junk food, tobacco and alcohol can do to your health, you can develop the motivation required to control your cravings.

Write down your motivation: Make a note of your health goal. This will help you identify the change that you wish to see in yourself. When you write it down, you subconsciously begin the process of searching for answers.

Maintain a positive attitude: Although it’s impossible to be positive all the time, you need to train your your mind and tastebuds to respond to the positive commands that your motivation has created.

Practice: Focus on your new regime, and begin practising it. Skip that piece of chocolate after dinner, or whatever your new goal is. You may find yourself going back to your cravings. But don’t let that hinder your progress towards better health. Listen to your inner voice, and not to your tastebuds. Instead of feeling deprived about what you cannot have, try to feel grateful for your newly acquired will power.

Dr Anjali Mukerjee is a nutritionist and founder of Health Total, a nutrition counselling centre.