I don’t tell people what to do.

I teach, guide, recommend and inspire. I’ve found that’s most helpful in building healthy lifestyles, mindsets, resilience. 

Yet over the course of my career, more people than I can count have pleaded, “Just tell me WHAT to do, and I will!”

That works. For awhile.

The reason it works only temporarily is because the mechanics of following a nutrition, exercise or healthy lifestyle plan are only that. Mechanics.

Going through the motions to execute a directive from an EXTERNAL force isn’t likely to stick. INTERNAL motivation is missing, personal responsibility is non-existent. 

Creating a healthy survivor lifestyle that sticks is something only YOU can tell yourself to do.

Then you have to actually do it.

Resilient people BELIEVE things (including their health) can change for the better, and take deliberate action to make it so. (1)

Here are my recommendations to help you take action. 

6 WAYS TO BUILD PHYSICAL AND MENTAL RESILIENCE 

1. SLEEP: Sleep is the glue that holds your ENTIRE healthy life together. When you’re well-rested you eat better, exercise better, think more clearly and FEEL more resilient. How much sleep you need depends on your individual needs, but most adults require between seven and nine hours/night. (2)
2. EAT: I’m not reminding you to actually eat, but to pay attention to WHAT you eat. To nourish your body rather than simply fill it up. Bathing your body’s cells in health-supportive nutrients, vitamins and minerals builds a resilient physiological environment that sustains a strong immune system and potentially supports recurrence risk reduction. (3)   
3. BREATHE DEEPLY: Do exercise that raises your heart rate, gets your blood flowing, and loosens your joints, muscles and mind. If you’re feeling the side effects of medication or other treatments, your body may be feel old, achy and tired, which lead to depression and anxiety. Exercise helps build a strong, less painful body, and serves as a way to combat depression/anxiety/stress.
4. THINK: Your “thinking style” leads to beliefs about your overall health.  If you think good health is valuable and worth pursuing, you’ll act accordingly. Changing your thinking changes your habits.  
5. CHOOSE: You have the ultimate say in your health habits. The food you put into your body, how much, how often, and whether or not you exercise, what time you go to bed, how much alcohol you drink, how much junk food you mindlessly eat. When you take personal responsibility for your choices, you take charge of your health. That builds resilience. 
6. COMMIT: Set yourself up to thrive by committing to good health. When you live with an eye toward building and maintaining physical and mental resilience, you develop the “muscle of discipline”, the muscle that gives strength to your intention to eat well, exercise often, get enough sleep, make health-supportive choices, and adopt a positive frame of mind. (4)

RESILIENCE is your BRILLIANCE! Tap into it and shine. 

___________________________________________________________________________

Thanks for reading my blog post!

I help post-treatment survivors of hormone-positive breast cancer end food fear, confusion and overwhelm, eat without stress and guilt, and rebuild their health so they can do the things they enjoy with the people they love.

I’m a registered dietitian, personal trainer, nutrition therapist and coach, speaker, and survivor of hormone-positive breast cancer.

Ready for professional support to rebuild your health and gain peace of mind? 

Click this link and watch my HEALTH REBUILD video!

Get my FREE Lifestyle Choices Matter! Get Started Guide here

Follow me on Instagram @hormone.breastcancer.dietitian

This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Please consult your dietitian or doctor for guidance specific to your needs. 

_____________________________________________________________________________

SOURCES

1. The Resilience Factor. 7 Keys to Finding Your Inner Strength and Overcoming Life’s Hurdles Karen Reivich, Ph.D, Andrew Shatte, Ph.D
2. Sleep Foundation
3. How Your Diet Can Keep Cells Health and Young
4. 17 Self-Discipline Exercises to Build Your Self-Control Muscle