Studies show that adding variety to your exercise routine is necessary for optimal health. Getting on the treadmill everyday may burn calories but only works a limited range of muscles, joints and ligaments. While some body parts become strong and alert, others remain weak and lazy. Unbalanced, a minor slip can become a major fall because key body parts are not available to help you.

The time to strengthen weak ankles is before you trip down the stairs.

Your brain also requires exercise to prevent minor slips (cookies at lunch) from becoming major falls (a whole plate of cookies). MS neurons in the brain – responsible for managing impulses, drives and cravings – go on vacation when there’s nothing to do. While these neurons are away, the needy, greedy neurons (dopamine receptors) come out to play, enticing you to eat, drink, spend, stay up late, etc. without any care for long term consequences. When the MS neurons come back from vacation you suddenly mentally connect to the consequences of your actions: “Yikes! I just ate a whole bag of cookies.” Unfortunately, this usually leads to shame – “How stupid was that? What was I thinking? I’m such a failure” – which then leads to eating more cookies.

The time to strengthen weak MS neurons is before you are served a plate of cookies.

This week I invite you to start a mental exercise program that will strengthen the MS neurons up and get them ready to intercede when the dopamine receptors spy opportunities for short-term gratification:

1. First, list the people, places and things that tempt you.

2. Close your eyes and bring to mind one of these temptations. See yourself assessing the consequences of following through with this temptation. See yourself choosing long term rather than short term gratification. Feel empowered by this decision. See yourself heading away from the temptation towards something or someone emotionally, physically, and spiritually fulfilling. Feel yourself being filled up in a lasting, loving, and healthy way. Do this when you wake up in the morning and when you go to sleep.

3. Share constantly with friends and family and God the benefits of passing up the temptations listed above:

I feel so good that I am…

I’m so happy that…

When I……I feel so good.

I’m so grateful that….

4. FEEL in your body and soul the benefits of long-term gratification.

5. Get into a habit of doing these mental exercises all the time and eventually your MS neurons will be strong enough to veer you away from the temptations on your list.

Suggested readings: Change Your Brain; Change Your Body by Dr. Daniel Amen, You Are What You Think, by Dave Stoop.