Often times we know that we are not happy with our weight, health, and fitness. We know that we should make changes in our eating, exercise, and lifestyle habits, but sometimes we just get stuck in our old ways of thinking and eating.

Why do we get so stuck in not-so-good-for-you habits and stay stuck when we know better?

There are many reasons for getting stuck.

The more aware you become of what keeps you in the food rut, the more likely you will free yourself from the food rut so that you can reach a higher level of health and fitness.

What keeps you stuck in a body less than your ideal? Could it be:

Conditioning
Habits
Emotional bondage
Ignorance
Laziness
Complacency (self-satisfaction)
Too many voices
Fear
Doctor worship
It wont happen to me

Parts 1 and 2 of this article explore reasons 1-6. In this part of the article, lets explore the last four reasons why we get stuck.

7. Too many voices: With all the different and often conflicting voices out there, from doctors, authors, the media, celebrities, friends, family, and the government, you can get very confused. Which voice are you going to listen to? How are you to know who is offering the truth?

Often times, confusion leads to overwhelm and overwhelm leads to doing the easiest thing possiblewhich is, in this case, eating exactly what you have always eaten no matter how good or bad it is for you.

8. Fear: You may be simply afraid of making changes. Yes, afraid. You may be afraid of upsetting other people around you, rocking the boat so to speak. You may be afraid of their scoffing or not approving of your new food regime, no matter how right it is for you. You may be afraid to try for fear of failing and failing leads to guilt and feeling badly about ourselves.

Who wants that? So you dont even try.

9. Doctor worship: Sometimes we conveniently use our doctors as an excuse to not take care of our bodies with better foods and daily exercise. If our doctor doesnt tell us to eat differently and to exercise, then we dont take the initiative to eat differently and exercise. After all, the doctor knows best and if he didnt give specific advice, then who are we to question his authority?

Sometimes we are afraid of our doctors disapproval if we start altering our diets. We wouldnt want to earn his disapproval or, heaven forbid, his anger because we are not following his advice to the letter.

It is important to remember that our health is our responsibility and a doctor is an advisor, not a dictator or an all-knowing God.

10.It wont happen to me: As I have heard Dr. John McDougall say, I think the most common reason of all that people get stuck in their old ways of eating is because they really dont think that it will happen to them.

They witness their neighbors, friends, siblings, parents, spouses, and even their children getting some awful disease, or condition, but they really cant even imagine that it could happen to them.

How many people do you know, perhaps even you, that have been diagnosed or stricken by a disease or condition and they said those exact words, I just never thought it would happen to me.

People can not relate to another persons pain or ailment until it strikes them.

Are you stuck in your old habits because of one or more of these reasons? Now is the time to break free and evolve into the healthiest and the best you.

As we become more and more aware of what keeps us stuck in old, health-compromising behaviors and patterns, our thinking starts to change. And a change in our thoughts triggers a change in our actions. A change in our actions builds better habits. Better habits have the power to transform our bodies, our health, and our very lives.

Dr. Leslie has expertly helped hundreds of people sort fact from fiction, make common sense food and lifestyle changes, and shed food misconceptions along with excess pounds. She also walks her talk. By following her self-created "10 + 10 Eating Plan for Life" and through daily exercise, Dr. Leslie maintains her ideal weight and level of energy, fitness, and health. As she often says to her audiences and coaching participants: “Eating correctly and exercising don’t take time, they give you time—when it counts—at the end of your life.”

Dr. Leslie has recently completed writing her first motivational health book. She is now exploring publication avenues.

As a single mom, Dr. Leslie raised three children in the foothills of the Olympic Mountains in the lovely town of Sequim, WA. They are now young adults and successfully finding their own paths.

Dr. Leslie Van Romer 415 N. Sequim Ave. Sequim, WA 98382

Office: 360-683-8844 Toll Free: 888-375-3754 Fax: 360-683-5381