Healthy Tipping Point

I picked up my latest read a few months ago at Barnes and Noble, and have slowly been able to read through this great book by Caitlin Boyle titled, The Healthy Tipping Point. Boyle provides a refreshing holistic approach to developing long-term health goals.

She provides great insight based on the notions that you have to be in the right frame of mind regarding your health, you can't focus too strongly on your errors or engage in self-sabotage by restricting your diet, giving in to negative self-talk, or use compulsive exercising as atonement.

Think about the diets you may have tried in the past. Did you stick them out? Did you ever feel like you were missing out on something by restricting certain important foods from your diet? Short-term diets and fads don't leave rooms for imperfections. It's really ok to have dessert, bread, and appetizers- but in moderation! Don't choose all three, just choose one.

Popular diet advice that is tossed around the mainstream media frequently focuses on being "perfect"- such rigid thinking is bound to end in disappointment. Being happy doesn't come from physical attributes, it comes from peace within and eating, exercise helps to get us there.

Boyle points out, statistically speaking, the vast majority of diets are failures. The diet mentality can't compare to a long-term, holistic view of health- which is something I've learned within the last few years.

Something that really stuck with me while reading this is to reframe your health goals by changing the way you see, instead of simply changing the way you look. Positive changes begin in the mind. I've come to realize healthy living is about the emotional aspect of life as much as the physical side.

Einstein once famously said, "doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results is the definition of insanity." If you want to truly change your behavior, you have to change your motivational methods. Remember this when you start feeling yourself slip away from your healthy holistic approach- Believe that small decisions can add up to something amazing.

If you're interested in learning more or just want to keep up with Caitlyn Boyle, check out both of her blogs either here or here.