Changing how you think is hard. Changing your environment isn’t. As a Personal Trainer in Omaha with over 20 years of experience, I have learned that by training your environment, your habits follow.  Research has shown that most of our decisions are automatic, based on patterns and brain shortcuts.

Instead of slowly deciding, step by step, our brains quickly process a handful of grab-n-go inputs and pick from a recognizable menu of options. We ignore stuff we don’t like or want to see, and we’re easily compelled by shiny distractions.

Sound familiar?

Basically, our brains are like the thinking version of fast food — go to the place that’s most appealing, speed through the drive-thru, pick the favorite combo from the menu, slam the decision, and move on to the next choice.

So we don’t actually think much when we think we’re thinking.

We follow patterns, physical cues that bubble beneath our awareness, and what’s around us. That means our environment powerfully shapes our decisions, more than we realize.

For instance:

·        Most of us will eat all that we’re served — no matter how big the portion is. If we’re served a small bag of popcorn, we’ll eat that. If we are served a bucket of popcorn, we’ll eat that. Presumably if we are served a Volkswagen full of popcorn, we’d do our best to finish that off too.

·       We often eat more when we’re multitasking. Ever started snacking while watching TV or playing video games, then found yourself staring at an empty bag or bowl, wondering where it all went? Your attention was elsewhere, so your eating machine just went on autopilot.

·       If we consistently eat bigger portions, bigger portions will seem “normal” — and we’ll regularly overeat. Our great-grandparents (who drank 7-ounce soft drinks and ate 4-ounce hamburgers in the 1950s) would be astounded at the 50-ounce Double Gulps and 12-ounce Monster Thick burgers commonplace in the US. We’ve lost our perspective on how much we should really be eating.  

Our environment: The foundation of habit.

It’s the opposite of what you might expect.

All the “expert stuff” — adjusting macronutrients, advanced nutrition strategies, etc. — is a very small part.  Think of a pyramid it would be on top. You might not ever even get to it. It’s a “nice to have”.

The base of the pyramid — your foundation — is what surrounds you.

·       Your social environment and culture.

·       Your kitchen.

·       Your grocery habits.

·       Your day-to-day routine.

·       Your people.

People often try to “work hard” to change their habits because changing how you think and feel is hard.

But why should everything be so hard, all the time? 

There’s no need to white-knuckle the willpower. 

You can actually make change much easier by simply changing your environment.

Harness your brain’s autopilot for the side of good!

By just changing what’s around you in small ways, you can make changes without even thinking about them. If you are looking for an Omaha Personal Trainer, look no further. I’ve got you covered. Call today for your free consultation.