A temple or shrine or something? Recently I've been trying to eat healthy it's actually been helping. If I objectify my body as some temple, and eating junk food would "defile" it, it helps me to stop eatting the junk.

Was just wondering if anyone used that psycology to help them through cutting.

A temple or shrine or something? Recently I've been trying to eat healthy it's actually been helping. If I objectify my body as some temple, and eating junk food would "defile" it, it helps me to stop eatting the junk.

Was just wondering if anyone used that psycology to help them through cutting.

No, but whatever works for you bro. Often times I find I just don't have enough to do whenever I'm tempted to eat crummy food. Not being on a mission to look a certain way can shoot you in the foot as well.

nope. it's pretty hard for me to think that way, maybe because im not one for religion.
who knows.

i just want to look a certain way, and i know that if i go off eating clean for even 1 meal, it'll slow me down.

A temple or shrine or something? Recently I've been trying to eat healthy it's actually been helping. If I objectify my body as some temple, and eating junk food would "defile" it, it helps me to stop eatting the junk.

Was just wondering if anyone used that psycology to help them through cutting.

My philosophy is you get out what you put in.

Absolutely.

BODY A TEMPLE OR A WOODSHED:
A phase from one of my favorite speakers rings in my head all the time:

"Treat your body like a temple, not a wood shed."

FILTER TRASH WITH YOUR MIND OR YOUR BODY:
I also think in terms of either using my mind to filter what food I allow in my body, or eating junk and allowing my body to be the filter. The first requires ounces of discipline, while the later, over time, produces tons of regret.

I Corintians 6:19
Says the body is a temple.

It's amazing to me how simple concepts like this can transform behavior, over time, and eventually transform the quality of your life.

Here's another:

Miss a meal but don't miss a book.

A temple or shrine or something? Recently I've been trying to eat healthy it's actually been helping. If I objectify my body as some temple, and eating junk food would "defile" it, it helps me to stop eatting the junk.

Was just wondering if anyone used that psycology to help them through cutting.

A temple or shrine or something? Recently I've been trying to eat healthy it's actually been helping. If I objectify my body as some temple, and eating junk food would "defile" it, it helps me to stop eatting the junk.

Was just wondering if anyone used that psycology to help them through cutting.
Well, the bible says your body is the temple of God and we should not defile it. I guess that would be letting yourself go and not caring about your health and the way you look, so in that respect yes I do. Maybe I should think of that more often when I want a snickers or mallo cup, my favorite :nod:

Back when I was a god fearing man I did.

A lot of what MGB posted is the heart of where the phrase came from.

Nowadays before I eat I think more like "Is this going to help you achieve your goals? And if not - what are you doing with it?"

No, it's a tool much like a hammer. Unfortunately it's the only one I get, but I use it because I own it. If I want the lovely taste of pizza and pepsi my body will deliver that to my brain. I realize I have to keep it in good condition though or else it will break prematurely.

How do you "worship" at your shrine? :) Ignore that question :D

of course!


its a house of worship. its a vessel to be used by the creator. its a conduit... and the cleaner it is... the more in tune your frequency is with God.

mines on 1040.00 MHz at the moment.

Nah, I look at is more as a machine. GIGO - Garbage In, Garbage Out.

But then, I'm not religious, so there you go.

It's good to use the image/vision/strategy that works. Any mental image may help you accomplish your goal. While not everyone posting on this thread uses the same image many of them use a mental picture to keep them focused on their goal.

I put a sports psychology poll on the weight training "arm" of the forum a couple of weeks ago. Over half the people responding to the poll have used some mental strategy successfully. http://forums.johnstonefitness.com/showthread.php?t=19660

I like your idea personnaly. It appeals to me. I am going to start using it. If a mental picture is going to be successful it needs to be one that means something to the person using it. :nod:

The way I seen it. I lived fat too damn long and worked too damn hard to not treat my body with the respect it deserves. I love the way I look, my wife loves the way I look, and a lot of my co-workers, friends and soccer teammates are envious. So hell, why not think of it as a shrine.

I know I could look a lot better (i.e. Brad Pitt in Fight Club or Troy) but that's something a regular guy like me don't have the time for between work and family life.

It really does seem to be working so far.

Before I used to justify eating junk food by saying I'd work it off later. But if I picture someone trashing the "temple", it helps me realize how bad even a bit of junk really is. Kinda like put chewing gum on the Mona Lisa.

The more I think about it, the more it's really sinking in that even a little bit of junk is unacceptable. All those minor excuses and justifications are just that, excuses. Would you let someone into your house to trash it, even if they promised to clean it up later?

I can't believe that I'm actually hyped about eating clean lol.

It really does seem to be working so far.

Before I used to justify eating junk food by saying I'd work it off later. But if I picture someone trashing the "temple", it helps me realize how bad even a bit of junk really is. Kinda like put chewing gum on the Mona Lisa.

The more I think about it, the more it's really sinking in that even a little bit of junk is unacceptable. All those minor excuses and justifications are just that, excuses. Would you let someone into your house to trash it, even if they promised to clean it up later?

I can't believe that I'm actually hyped about eating clean lol.



i agree with everything you are saying... but often its not this black and white. a lot of the food we deem or think of as clean is at times still contaminated.

so whats your thoughts on that?

trying the best with what you got...its a "your heart that counts" situation.


but one is still technically defiling the temple although its not as bad as it used to be.

i agree with everything you are saying... but often its not this black and white. a lot of the food we deem or think of as clean is at times still contaminated.

so whats your thoughts on that?

trying the best with what you got...its a "your heart that counts" situation.


but one is still technically defiling the temple although its not as bad as it used to be.

That is true. No one can maintain a 100% correct diet, but one can always try to achieve that.

At this point thought I just don't want to cheat. I don't even want to think about it. I can't even let myself think, "A little cheat isn't that bad", because it might just throw off my routine.

Maybe when I get down to the low teens I'll relax a bit, but untill then I'm going to try to maintain as strict a diet as possible.

not me :P, i just look at how fat I am in the mirror and say to myself, Why are you so fat? Slap myself in the face a few time and say lose it now or feel more of my wrath. basicaily how I stay on my diet/workout.

Never miss 1 day of cardio , eat like 99% healthy and havn't eaten any junk food at for well over 2 month.

I can't believe that I'm actually hyped about eating clean

i started to feel the same way shortly after i began eating a healthy diet and working out. i'm happy that the good food i eat is helping me build the sexy muscular body i want.

i'm still having trouble kicking soft drinks, but good riddance to fast food and fattening snacks :tu:

i just look at how fat I am in the mirror and say to myself, Why are you so fat? Slap myself in the face a few time and say lose it now or feel more of my wrath.Sounds like a new form of corporal mortification. Opus Dei numerary? :p

In no way do I like to eat junk food now for I have just lost 75 pounds. Even if I were to look at my body as a shrine then it would still get some junk food because it demands it. If my body didn't demand pretzels and popcorn, then I probly wouldn't give it those things. Of course, I refuse to give my body as much bad food as it demands, that's just silly.

I am also not that much of a religious person.

I've never been to church in my life, but that has nothing to do with how I am connected spiritually to my own body. Make it what you want -- a shrine, temple, God, or just a sexy 6-pack you like to stare at in the mirror for hours. Right or wrong, I at least try to convince myself that my body is more than just a bunch of physical matter organized into the human being form, but that if I treat it well then my life should be rewarded with good health. The only example I can provide is that about 18 months ago I made a conscience decision to eat clean the majority of my meals and to be moderate about alcohol usage, as well as daily exercise (or laborous work.) Since then, I have not been sick ONCE -- not even your average cold. This is from somebody who used to have the immune system of a 120 year old. I'd get sick a dozen times a year with random bugs, and it captivated with coming down hard with mono at the end of my Fresh year in college. Since then, though, I've felt incredibly healthy and well, all due to the choices I made about diet and exercise. Take that as you will.

Sounds like a new form of corporal mortification. Opus Dei numerary? :p

Someone has been reading Dan Brown :p

All kidding aside though, I finally think I'm a true believer in clean eating. Today I felt like absolute crap. I had like 3 hours sleep, and was pretty much a zombie all day. Ate clean all day but when I got home I was just about ready to pass out when I remembered one of John's previous daily posts.

I figure I'll head to the gym and just go through the motions, at the very least warm up the muscle. Dunno what happened but as soon as I started hefting the weights I felt really really good. Really glad I hit the weights instead of zzz'ing.

This sounds kind of weird - but when I do my training and eating, I think of myself as some sort of soldier, like Rambo, now obviously he's a fictional character, however I admire his leadership and most of all, toughness, not just physical toughness, but mental toughness. So 6 days out of 7 I think of me as him, without the shooting and the ballistic 1 man approach :lol:

But yeah when I train, I'm a soldier of war. Because fat loss is war.

This was going to be my exact response when after reading the original post:
Nah, I look at is more as a machine. GIGO - Garbage In, Garbage Out.

No Doubt! :tucool:

BiT i totally agree.

i personally am very religious (i dont go to church, but i have personal beleifs) and i definetly feel that the ME inside of my body is separate from my body, and ive been trying to cradle the body like a baby- treating it properly and such.

it feels like standing on a balance beam and everyday the beam is raised a little higher but at the same time everday im becoming more and more able to balance without a struggle.

not me :P, i just look at how fat I am in the mirror and say to myself, Why are you so fat? Slap myself in the face a few time and say lose it now or feel more of my wrath. basicaily how I stay on my diet/workout.

Dude That's awesome. I'm going to start doing the whole self intimidation thing. Can it help you wake up early on a cold day to go swim laps in cold water? I usually have to curse myself to get out of bed before 6 but I've not tried the face slapping yet. :lol: