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J.Law’s Trainer Shares 5 Ways to Wake Up Your Willpower

willpowerWant to give your willpower a big ol’ jolt? Like it just drank a bunch of coffee, did a tough workout, saw a beautiful sunrise and is now so amped up on life that it can’t help but smile — and cross off your to-dos like a boss? Yeah, I think we all want to feel that good and motivated. Like we aren’t just living life, but that we’re rocking it. And this excerpt by Dalton Wong — you might, ahem, know him better as J.Law’s personal trainer — will help you to wake up your natural willpower.

Dalton is one of the world’s leading personal trainers. Besides J.Law, his clients include the cast of X-Men, Kit Harington and stars from Game of Thrones, and Amanda Seyfried. And he’s the author of The Feel Good Plan, which offers a very non-diety approach (you know we love that!) to achieving good health, inside and out. The below willpower tips are an excerpt from that very book, and we are super psyched to share them. (Psyched like we just drank a bunch of coffee, did a tough workout, saw a beautiful sunrise and followed these tips, haha.)

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5 Ways to Wake Up Your Willpower By Dalton Wong

1. Eat. Eating a more plant-based, less-processed diet not only gives your body a steady supply of energy, but eating clean, nutritious food makes that energy more available to your brain, which can strengthen your willpower. More nuts, less chicken nuggets.

2. Plan. Being busy screws with your self-control. Planning puts willpower back in the game, so even when you’re rushed, you can effortlessly make good food choices. Keep a stash of hard-boiled eggs in the fridge to keep you going when you’ve got more than four hours between meals. This feel-good snack contains amino acids, which dilate blood vessels so oxygen flows more easily and you’ll find it easier to tick off your to-do list on a busy day. Almonds are a great snack to stash in your handbag as they are high in a heart-healthy fat called oleic acid that can boost memory.

3. Be subtle. Change “I can’t” to “I don’t.” Why? “I can’t eat chips,” means “I’m not allowed to eat chips,” and forbidden foods are impossibly desirable. Give your willpower a fighting chance by saying, “I don’t eat chips.” Because you’re actually saying, “I prefer not to eat chips; they don’t make me feel good.” The difference is subtle, but empowering.

4. Rebrand. If you describe yourself as a latte lover or a fried-chicken fiend, people will constantly push those temptations in front of you. They think they’re doing you a favor. Do yourself a favor and rebrand. Tell friends you’re obsessed with green juice, because you can practically feel those antioxidants replenishing your body. When you’re choosing where to go for dinner, tell your partner you’ve got a thing about grass-fed steak. When you talk the talk, it naturally follows that you walk the walk.

5. Breathe. Learning how to manage your stress better, even if it’s just taking a few deep breaths when you feel tempted, is one of the most important things you can do to improve your self-control. So as you stare at a counter full of glazed pastries, take a few deep breaths to gather your willpower and order a feel-good fix instead. Black coffee sweetened with a dash of cinnamon or a piece of fresh fruit with some raw nuts will see you right.

Reprinted with permission from The Feelgood Plan © 2016 by Dalton Wong and Kate Faithfull-Williams, Sterling Epicure.

How will you rebrand yourself and boost your willpower? I simply LOVE that tip! Jenn


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