I’m reading Eat, Pray, Love right now with an eye toward how it might help me be more focused through meditation. I am concentrating on small goals and in fact am only thinking about losing five pounds at a time. Read more about how to Focus on Five here.

For me losing five pounds is just as hard as focusing so that’s why the Eat, Pray, Love. I’d suggest skipping the first chapter because it is all about the Eat part. SO the second part – Pray. It’s about focus and control and being at peace. All good but there is a line and philosophy that resonates and applies exactly to fitness and healthy eating.

At one point Elizabeth Gilbert’s (the author) Guru tells her that “that you should never give yourself a chance to fall apart because, when you do, it becomes a tendency and it happens over and over again. You must practice staying strong instead.”

Here’s how I’m applying that and it has been surprisingly effective. Perhaps it can help you too.  If one day you choose foods that are not on your plan or “fall apart” it means you’re more likely or will tend to do it the next day. Before you know it your habit is unhealthy eating. It is the same with exercise. Every day you skip exercise you give power to the idea that skipping it is the norm.

And it can work in the reverse. Exercise today. Follow your eating plan today. Follow it tomorrow. You can turn your daily tendency of healthy exercise and health into habit.  You can. You will.

And it is in this way I’ve lost five pounds, actually a little more than that over the last two weeks. The second week was easier than the first. I have no idea how long it will take to lose the next five. I actually don’t care. The weight will be what it is if my habit of health holds. 

***And now for something completely different.. these Klondike no sugar added bars are great. Not low cal BUT no sugar and I’d gladly walk two miles to make up for the 170 calories! I got free coupon for them from the company and just love the heck out of them!