Good, Better, Best

During a meeting with some friends I disclosed some bad habits that I would like to stop.  But my fear in stopping is that taking those things completely out of my life will feel like a diet and then the battle will begin.  How do I change bad habits without having an internal battle with myself?  One friend suggested that instead of completely taking out, that I just replace it with something better.  Then I thought of that talk Good, Better, Best.  I can start slowly by replacing my bad habit like Diet Coke and Chocolate with something that is Good in comparison.  So instead of Diet Coke, Crystal light(at least the Walmart brand), and I replaced the Chocolate with this awesome fruit and nut mix from Costco.  Are these choices the BEST choices?  No, but I feel like I have to make changes slowly and with love and gentleness.  We forget to treat ourselves with love and gentleness, but that is a post for another day.  My idea is that eventually I will replace the good things, with better things and eventually those better things with the things that are BEST for me.  Doesn't that sound like such a GREAT idea?  I thought so.  Instead of doing it like all the other diets in the world tell you to... You know what I"m talking about, they want you take EVERYTHING away from yourself and expect you to stick to it for months.  I'm sorry, but I've tried that and it's just not possible.  For me, anyway. 

Good, Better, Best just feels right.  I believe that permanent change, for me, has to come slowly.  I have to wean myself from these bad habits.  I felt this idea was inspired and so, I'm going to try it out.  Have I been perfect?  No, not by any stretch of the imagination.  But am I making progress?  You betcha.  And it feels good.  I have had just a 20oz diet coke this whole week.  I still have a long way to go with the chocolate.  I have this TERRRIBLE habit of rewarding myself when I'm at the grocery store with a chocolate treat.  I say to myself, "Gosh darn it, I'm a hard working woman, a mother of 6 and I totally DESERVE this."  But am I really rewarding myself, my body?  No.  Sugar just makes me feel sluggish and slow.  It's a habit I formed a good 8 years ago and it's not going to change over night.  But I can apply the good, better, best strategy to that too?  Absolutely!  Instead of a candy, buy a protien bar instead.  Eventually not purchasing anything at all and saving the money I would have spent to buy a new shirt.  Now that sounds like an amazing reward! 

Like I've mentioned before, I am no longer a dieter.  My goal is to permanently change my life.  But that change has to come slowly and with love.  Change doesn't just happen either.  We have to stretch and work at it too.  It's a hard balance to find.  But I hope to find it.