Habits live in our subconscious mind and desires live in our conscious mind.
Neural scientists have found it takes an average of 30 days of conscious effort to build a new habit (reset the hypothalamus).
The hypothalamus is the part of the brain produces every chemical known to man without any side effects.
It’s a natural pharmacy.
The hypothalamus releases chemicals whose form is dependent on the emotions we experience.
If we get angry, the hypothalamus releases angry chemicals and that feed our cells.
When we are happy, it releases happy chemicals that feed our cells.
Our cells have their own consciousness and over time they become addicted to the chemicals that are released by the hypothalamus.
They communicate with our brain and beg it for the chemical fix of their choice.
If our cells are used to being happy, they will urge us to watch a funny movie, listen to a happy songs, or call a friend that we have uplifting conversation with.
This is the anatomy of a craving.
So what does this have to do with our fitness?
If the majority of cells in our body are used to fit chemicals, they will urge us to hang around fit people that eat fit foods, and have fit lifestyles and make fit decisions.
And on the other hand, if the majority of cells in our body are used to fat thoughts they will urge us to hang around…well you get the picture…just replace fit with fat.
So how do we change what the cells want?
We reset the hypothalamus by retraining our subconscious mind with affirmations, meditations and/or prayer.
In other words, we suck it up and conciously put the effort in by building new habits day by day and hour by hour.
Yes its cliché, but a wise man once told me:
“Phrases are cliché because they truly are powerful and effective.”
P.S. If you are interested, a good movie that explains the hypothalamus in depth as well as another trippy subject is “What the Bleep Do We know?”.
http://www.whatthebleep.com
