My daughter got this book for me for Christmas and I absolutely love it. Im supposed to answer all the questions and then give it back to her. It’s precious memories.

“When you make a mistake, be kind enough to forgive yourself and learn from it.” ~Unknown TAKING ACTION: ✅ After reading today’s post, do you see why it’s important to speak “realistically” positively to yourself? Friends, if you want lasting change, you must change the way you speak to yourself. On Wednesday, I mentioned a topic that I think is so important—how we speak to ourselves. In fact, I don’t just think it’s important. I KNOW it’s important—psychology tells us so, and if you’re a spiritual person, there’s proof there, too. 💯 Psychology tells us that in order to change, we must change the way we speak to ourselves; however, there is one caveat—changing your thoughts requires you to actually believe what you’re saying. For example ⬇️ 👉Old thought: “I am a failure, and will never be able to control myself around food.” Some people will tell you to turn this negative talk into a positive thought, such as, “I’m the best, and nothing can knock me down.” Here’s the deal—that’s simply not true. If you truly want to change the way you speak to yourself, you must give yourself both truth and grace. That’s the answer. So, instead of practicing what I call “toxic positivity”, try replacing your negative thoughts with positive, yet truthful and realistic thoughts. A good example of this would be ⬇️ 👉 “I am learning. I am retraining my body, brain, and taste buds, and that isn’t easy. Though I slipped up, I know I’m still practicing a new lifestyle—and practice leads to progress over time.” See the difference there? As you learn to speak to yourself differently, always remember to give yourself both truth and grace. This equation will offer so much in terms of overall growth! ✨

TAKING ACTION: ✅ Share your weekly win below! I want everyone participating today, got it?! Celebrating yourself is an important piece of the puzzle! 🧩 Also, what are your goals this year?!! Alright, friends—even though we aren’t beginning our New Year challenge for another few days, the holidays are officially over, and now is the time to start preparing your minds—and your kitchens for what’s to come! 💯 Next week, you’re going to learn more about why the new year is a great time to pursue goals. If you’re feeling excited (and maybe even a little anxious) for next week, there’s a reason for that. Next week, we’re going to learn how to use it to our advantage! 🔥 In the meantime, we have wins to celebrate! 🎉 Remember when I mentioned yesterday that how you speak to yourself matters? On some level, celebrating your weekly wins is one way to practice this strategy. By taking the time to consider what you did well and celebrating it (especially with others), you are doing the work it takes to change the way you think about yourself—and when you change the way you think about yourself, you start acting more like who you desire to be! So, without further ado, it’s time to celebrate, friends! 🎉

TAKING ACTION: ✅ What questions do you have before tomorrow? Where do you need more help or support? Comment below and let me know how you’re feeling! Alright, friends! It’s almost time—who’s ready?! 🔥 You know the details about what’s coming up this week. You know how to speak more kindly to yourself and begin changing your negative thought patterns. You’re ready. In fact, this coming week, you’re going to learn exactly why you should take advantage of the New Year—some of the information I found surprised me, and it might surprise you, too! I’m going to help you with the mindset piece, but it’s up to you to make sure you're prepared. Take inventory of your kitchens today, and make a grocery run if needed. Do you have some sort of nutritional plan for the week? Do you know what time you’ll work out each day? Light walking, yoga, etc.. These are questions you need to consider and answer before tomorrow, friends. Preparation will only help you be more successful! 💯 You have the tools, but you must use them. 🛠️

TAKING ACTION: ✅ Does your family celebrate the New Year in a big way? Or are you in bed at your regular time? Let’s wrap up the week by participating in the comments below today! Coming up next: the New Year. 🎉 We’ve almost made it through the holiday season, friends; however, the New Year is a holiday that many of you celebrate—and celebrate big! Some of us our in our pajamas by 9:00 PM on NYE, but some of us like to ring in the New Year! Even if food choices aren’t as big a struggle on this particular holiday, there is another topic we need to discuss because it’s often consumed on New Year’s Eve— And that’s alcohol. 🥂 If you plan to have a few cocktails over the next few days, it’s best to plan for them ahead of time. Tracking alcohol is a little different than tracking your macros, and it’s important to know that you can’t simply rely on the label. If you need more information about how to track alcohol, check out this in-depth article below. The article also contains a few alcohol cheat sheets for your benefit! 🥂 How To Track Alcohol Macros | Lauren Fit Foodie