Today is the start of my 28 days of dialling in and optimising my nutrition. For the next 28 days I’m doing my own version of the Whole30 – the program designed by Melissa Hartwig.
I’ve actually not had the best start to the day as I had a really busy weekend and haven’t had time to properly get prepared! 🙈
This morning for breakfast I had two boiled eggs, a satsuma and some coffee with coconut milk. For lunch I had boiled potatoes with tomato sauce, carrots and green beans (food served at work). I also had some Green & Blacks 85% dark chocolate.
I was at work in London today and my food choices are always more limited. On my way home I shopped and stocked up for the rest of the week. I was starving when I got home so I had my favourite snack plate of green olives with tomatoes and garlic, chargrilled artichokes, sun-blushed tomatoes and truffle saucisson.
Tonight for dinner we are having grass-fed rack of lamb with fresh mint sauce, runner beans, coleslaw and salad.
The Big MOFA!
Today I am going to go through an exercise I use with my health coaching clients to help them uncover their motivation for making changes.
It’s called discovering your Big MOFA. Your Big MOFA is your big motivating factor, or your ‘why underneath the why’. Why do you want to make changes in your health and in your life? Below the questions I’ll show you my answers so you can see a completed example.
Here are the questions to work through to uncover your big MOFA.
1.If you were to wave a magic wand, and in the next 28 days create exactly what you wanted in your health and life, what would that look like (realistic but kind of a stretch)?
2. What are TWO or THREE concrete goals you would like to set for yourself for the next 28 days?
3. Now, looking at the above goals, ask yourself “what will having this do for me?” What is important about you reaching your goals?
4. And what will having that do for you?
5. Ask yourself this question “what will having that do for you?” 3 more times until you uncover your big, juicy “WHY.” This is your Big Motivating Factor. It’s the real reason you get up in the morning, put in the work and keep going even when it gets hard.
LET’S TAKE IT A STEP FURTHER… If you are able to create the perfect health you desire…
1.What might you be able to do that you can’t do now?
2. Who else in your life might be positively affected if you were to reach your goal?
3. How would you be able to show up in the world differently than you do now?
4. What would be the best part about that?
MMM-mmmm-mmm! Now that’s what I am talking about!
Look at your above answers for your Big MOFA (your Big Motivating factor, aka your “why”) shining through.
WHY is it that you want what it is you want?
Why is it important? Write your Big MoFa here:
I want to _______________________ (goal), BECAUSE if I do, I will be able to _____________________________. And that is important because _____________________
______________________________________________________ and
____________________________.
Anchoring
Once you have your Big MOFA, you can do something called Anchoring. An anchor is something physical in your environment that will remind you of ‘why’ you want to make changes.
Why you are taking the steps to make changes happen and why you are making the effort, especially in those times when you just don’t feel like it.
These anchors will be like your accountability health coach. They will be little reminders for you to make conscious choices rather than fall back into your old behaviours.
YOUR ANCHOR could be an inspiring message that you see when you turn on your laptop or phone, a vision board, a magnet on your fridge with inspiring words or a picture of what you really want your life to be, that continues to keep you on your path.
It could be your wedding ring, as a vow to yourself or it could be placing notes throughout your home to remind you. Maybe your friends and family worry too much about your weight and health and they become your anchor, because you don’t want them stressing and worrying.
It could be a necklace, a certain perfume you wear or a piece of clothing you can’t wait to fit into that prompts you to stay on track.
So every time you see, hear, smell or touch your anchor it will give you that spark to say, “Oh yes! I want to do this; I want to do this for ME!”
So what are some PHYSICAL OBJECTS, SMELLS or even SOUNDS in your life that you see, smell or hear every day that would make good ANCHORS to remind you of your Big Motivating Factor of why you are making changes and what you want to achieve? What anchors will keep you motivated and on track?
Here are my answers to the Big MOFA questions:
1.If you were to wave a magic wand, and in the next 28 days create exactly what you wanted in your health and life, what would that look like (realistic but kind of a stretch)?
I will have completed my 28 day nutrition experiment and picked up new food habits that stick. I’ll be feeling full of energy, positive and happy!
2. What are TWO or THREE concrete goals you would like to set for yourself for the next 28 days?
- Completely avoid grains and gluten for 28 days.
- Improve the nutrient-density of my diet.
- Form new habits around eating nutrient-dense and wild foods consistently.
3. Now, looking at the above goals, ask yourself “what will having this do for me?” What is important about you reaching your goals?
I know if I eat this way I will feel better, have more energy, a much more positive mood and I will sleep better. (Whenever I eat gluten I feel terrible: lethargic, lacking in energy and motivation and I get awful brain fog).
And what will having that do for you?
I believe 100% in the power of real food, and I get frustrated when I do not feed my family and myself in a way that I know best serves our health. I want to do this ‘year of health’ project because I want to live more in alignment with my true values.
And what will having that do for you?
I will have the energy and motivation to live the life I want to live and achieve the things I want to achieve. I’ll be more productive and have more energy to be there for my family and friends.
And what will having that do for you?
I’ll feel proud when I know I am being the best I can be in all areas of my life, and especially when I know I am doing the best for my family. And I will be able to enjoy life when I feel good. I’ll have the energy to focus on the things that are the most important to me.
I want to be able to say yes to these questions:
- Am I being the best mum, wife, sister, daughter and friend that I can be?
- Are I living the life I want to live?
- Will my actions today (and every day) add up to a well-lived life?
So here’s my Big MOFA:
I want to begin this ‘Year of Health’ project by eating the healthiest diet possible (while still 100% enjoying delicious food everyday), BECAUSE by doing so – I will have the good health, the energy and the motivation to live in alignment with my true values. And that is important because I want to be the best version of myself for my loved ones and I want to live a ‘well-lived’ and happy life.
I am going to mull over what I want my anchors to be and will write about them once I have decided.
#JoyfulJune
Today’s suggestion from Action for Happiness is amazingly: Do Something Healthy That Makes You Feel Good!
I am so happy that this has coincided with my start – today – of optimising my nutrition for the next 28 days! Feels like a sign… (I promise I hadn’t read ahead on the calendar!)
What healthy thing did you do today that made you feel good?
Until tomorrow,
Chloe x
