Why willpower is my biggest hurdle in health and fitness – Mummascribbles

Willpower – the ability to resist short-term temptations in order to meet long-term goals.

I mean it’s quite simple isn’t it? I want to be slim, fit and healthy, so I shouldn’t cave into the temptation of naughty treats. For me though, it is far easier said than done. When it comes to willpower, I have none.

Zero.

Nada.

Willpower is my biggest hurdle in health and fitness.

I am a biscuit fiend. I have one with my morning cup of tea, and then every single time I drink another cup during the day, I just can’t not have a biscuit with it. And sometimes I reach for the tin at other times too. I can get to the end of the day and I will have consumed 4-6 biccies. It’s bad.

Around 3 weeks ago my biscuit tin was nearing empty. Usually I would get another pack in the next shopping order, but this time I decided not to. For two reasons. 1, because Oscar kept asking for them and would have a tantrum if I said no. And 2, because I simply have no self control.  I figured that in both of these cases, it was just easier if they weren’t in the house. I couldn’t reach for them and I could show Oscar that we didn’t physically have any.

And for two and a half weeks I did really blooming well.

So what happened?

We saw the in laws. And they gave us the foodie treats that they forgot to bring over at Christmas.

And what was in there?

Shortbread. A whole scotty dog sized tin of little scotty dog shaped shortbread. I mean it’s the best biscuit on earth right? That buttery flavour melting in your mouth. Mmmmmmm.

I can’t stop eating them. And they are so small that I can’t possibly eat just one. Oh no, it’s more like three with every cup of tea. And three more later on. And then another couple.

NO SELF CONTROL.

And then yesterday? Well yesterday I really crushed the whole willpower thing with Jaffa Cakes.

I took Zach on a playdate to a friend’s house where he and his little pal had a good play for a couple of hours. My friend brought out a box of goodies, in which there were four Jaffa Cakes waiting to be eaten. Oscar nabbed one and then I had one. Then another. And to stop him wanting the very last one, I had that one too. My friend had told me that neither her or her husband like Jaffa Cakes (which to me is utter madness), and so she then proceeded to send me home with another whole pack.

And what did I do?

I ATE THEM.

OK so I gave two to the other half in order to stop me from eating the whole pack, but since I had already eaten three earlier in the morning, I basically ate a whole pack of Jaffa Cakes in one day. I mean I know it’s not hard. They are so moreish and impossible to eat just one of. But a whole pack? Seriously.

Part of my mindset whilst shoving those delicious full moon shaped delights into my mouth, was that once they were gone, they were gone. There would be no temptation of them the following day because they were already all in my belly. But for the most part, it was simply because I have no blimmin self control when it comes to Jaffa Cakes. Just like I have no self control over biscuits.

Photo by Aliis Sinisalu on Unsplash

Quite simply, I can’t have them in the house. I am not someone that can just have one and then forget about them. I know they are there. I can hear them calling me. I can taste them when they aren’t even in my mouth. And against them, I have zero willpower.

I still have a whole load of the shortbread to get through. I did think about sending them into work with the other half but who am I kidding?!

Once I have devoured them (and it’ll probably only be a few days until they are gone), I won’t be buying anymore biscuits. I did so well for the two weeks when there were none in the house, so I know I am better off just not buying them at all. That way when I have the odd one at playgroup, I won’t feel anywhere near as guilty as I normally do!

Do you struggle with willpower and self control? What is your biggest hurdle when it comes to staying fit and healthy?

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