Have you ever heard the old saying that breakfast is the most important meal of the day? Scientific truth or not, let’s set the food science aside and get into why this saying holds true when it comes to your mindset.
We all need and mostly want to be healthy. But desire doesn’t get the job done. Consistent actions get the job done when strung together over extended periods of time. And this is where the line between healthy and unhealthy is drawn. Between being the person who takes action for a short period before falling back into old unproductive behavior and the person who establishes a lifetime of solid health. The difference between the two: IDENTITY. The first person identifies as someone who struggles with their nutrition yet is TRYING to make healthier choices. The second person identifies themselves as the type of person who is healthy and consistently makes healthy choices.
This concept of personal identification is crucial in establishing endurance to your nutrition. You must identify yourself with your aspirations and the actions that get you there. And this leads us to the topic of why breakfast is the most important meal of the day!
Breakfast is more often than not, our first opportunity of the day to identify with and take action on great nutrition. Here’s how to do it:
1. Start with an identity affirmation. Look yourself in the mirror and say aloud, “I am the type of person who consistently makes healthy decisions for myself.” Say it until you’re convinced and excited about it if needed.
2. Immediately back that affirmation up with the supporting action of preparing and eating a healthy, simple, complete breakfast. Example: Lean protein 2-4 eggs, complex carbohydrates: handful of fruit + whole/sprouted grain toast. Healthy fat: 1 tbsp Peanut Butter on the toast.
3. While taking each bite ask yourself and answer this question: What is this doing for me? Actively eating your food instead of passively consuming helps you connect to, take responsibility for and identify with the food you are eating.
4. Allow yourself to feel great about what you just accomplished. Remind yourself that consistent action will lead to the health and outcome you desire. Ride the momentum into your next meal and watch it pour over into all of your nutritional decisions for the day.
Identity creates the desire to take action. Action creates momentum. Momentum, positive or negative, leads to somewhere very specific. In this case, healthy or unhealthy. What are you going to do tomorrow?
-Coach Derrick
