Deal or No Deal, Part 2

Written by Branda Polk

Editor's Note: Earlier this month, fitness expert Branda Polk shared two steps for living a healthier lifestyle in Deal or No Deal: Steps Toward Intentional Wellness. Read about the remaining three steps in Deal or No Deal, Part 2.

In part one of this article you learned about the powerful tool of choice. You can walk toward wellness with wise choices or struggle by making poor choices — or by not choosing and becoming a victim of circumstance.

First Taste; Jump-Start Your Way to Health and Permanent Weight Loss

To walk toward intentional wellness, you must first establish a direction with goals. Goals are the targets you are striving to achieve. Then, your goals become concrete when you invite others to hold you accountable and provide support through declaration of these goals to trusted people in your life. Direction and declaration are the first two steps toward intentional wellness. 

Once you have taken these two steps, then the process becomes mental. It has been said that the mind is the most powerful tool you have to accomplish our goals. Determination is the third step toward intentional wellness. Determination is making up your mind to choose wisely every minute of every hour of every day for the rest of your life. At the beginning, determination is hard work. Rarely is it easy to say “no” when temptations of fatty foods or laziness are readily available. Rarely is it easy to stand firm when no one is around and you are bored, stressed, or tired. But when you are on an intentional journey toward a healthier, balanced lifestyle and you have goals and accountability, then your mental determination can override the easy way out and choose the wise way. 

When your mind set is determined to succeed, then disciplined actions occur. The fourth step toward intentional wellness is discipline — the consistent habit of acting with wisdom. Its one thing to make up your mind to choose wisely before a temptation occurs, but the success comes full circle when the correct actions are chosen in the moment. Discipline is broader than merely punishment or correction. It emphasis self-control (a fruit of a Spirit) – the ability to stop as well as start, say no as well as yes, and deny as well as reward. In discipline we find the freedom to be well, not the restrictions of “can’t,” “don’t,” and “must.” You are free from the consequences of poor health and free to live in the way God designed your body to function. 

Discipline becomes a testimony to others that you are not pulled by cravings, whims, or temptations and that you can make the right choice no matter your circumstances or mood.  Discipline is a powerful tool in your wellness tool box.

As discipline becomes a natural part of who you are, devotion — the fifth step toward intentional wellness — will help you stay committed throughout your lifetime. A wellness lifestyle is not an on-again, off-again way of living. Temporary changes like crash or fad diets will only lead to temporary success. If that is your desire, then so be it. But many people want the long-term results from short term changes. This just doesn’t work! Devotion is the total commitment to living a healthy wellness lifestyle, and it only comes when you intentionally choose it. 

So, here’s the deal:
1. Direct your life (set goals).
2. Declare your goals (ask others for support and accountability). 
3. Determine your mental course (make up your mind).
4. Discipline your actions (act with self-control).
5. Devote your life (stay committed).

Now you know the steps it will take to live a lifestyle of intentional wellness. With these five steps in place you can begin and continue making wise choices and reaping the positive results. With these 5 steps you can walk toward wellness success no matter what your goals may be. So, the choice is yours:  Deal or no deal?

Branda Polk, B.S. Exercise Science, is a certified Fitness Instructor, personal trainer, and wellness coach in Memphis, Tennessee.