Healthy Habits Suck (How to Get Off the Couch and Live a Healthy Life... Even If You Don't Want To)

"Salad instead of steak? Working out? Skipping that second beer or glass of wine? Healthy habits are THE WORST. If you're someone who gets up every morning and can't wait for your run, considers eating sweet potatoes a splurge, and sets aside thirty minutes before work to meditate--this book isn't for you. If you're someone who thinks about getting up to go for a run but goes back to sleep, regrets last night's dinner of fast food, and can barely get to work on time--let alone meditate--then this book will help you find the motivation you've been looking for to live your healthiest life, even when you don't want to. With this funny, in-your-face guide, you won't find advice on how to "enjoy" exercise, or tips for making broccoli and kale taste as good as donuts and ice cream. What you will find are solid skills to help you actually do the healthy things you know you should be doing. Using these skills--based in acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and neuroscience--you'll learn to find the motivation you're really craving to adopt healthy habits, even if they do suck. You'll also discover how to accept self-criticism, develop self-compassion, and live a more meaningful life. This book not only acknowledges that many healthy habits suck, it uses science to explain why we want the things we want (junk food), crave the things we crave (sugar), and dislike the things we dislike (exercise). At the end, you'll feel validated in feeling like these things are the absolute worst. But you'll also find the motivation to do them anyway."--Publisher's website 'A realistic read that will prod even the most stubborn fast-food eating couch potato to take action toward a healthier lifestyle.'—Library JournalSalad instead of steak? Working out? Skipping that second beer or glass of wine? Healthy habits are THE WORST. If you're someone who gets up every morning and can't wait for your run, considers eating sweet potatoes a splurge, and sets aside thirty minutes before work to meditate—this book isn't for you. If you're someone who thinks about getting up to go for a run but goes back to sleep, regrets last night's dinner of fast food, and can barely get to work on time—let alone meditate—then this book will help you find the motivation you've been looking for to live your healthiest life, even when you don't want to.With this funny, in-your-face guide, you won't find advice on how to “enjoy” exercise, or tips for making broccoli and kale taste as good as donuts and ice cream. What you will find are solid skills to help you actually do the healthy things you know you should be doing. Using these skills—based in acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and neuroscience—you'll learn to find the motivation you're really craving to adopt healthy habits, even if they do suck. You'll also discover how to accept self-criticism, develop self-compassion, and live a more meaningful life.This book not only acknowledges that many healthy habits suck, it uses science to explain why we want the things we want (junk food), crave the things we crave (sugar), and dislike the things we dislike (exercise). At the end, you'll feel validated in feeling like these things are the absolute worst. But you'll also find the motivation to do them anyway. Being healthy is hard-- here's how to do it anyway. Lee-Baggley shares proven techniques to make you more mindful of your choices, help you develop self-compassion, and live a life that reflects what truly matters to you. She can't teach you to enjoy exercise, and there's no tips for making kale taste like chocolate. But readers will get the motivation need to adopt healthy habits-- even if they do suck. -- adapted from back cover Salad instead of steak? Exercise? Skipping that second beer or glass of wine? Healthy habits are the worst. Blending humor and irreverence with the science of behavior change, a health psychologist and runner who's never experienced a ""runner's high"" offers practical, counterintuitive strategies and a playful approach to help readers live a healthier life--even if they really want to just sit on the couch and eat ice cream