How many times have you faced this situation? You've resolved to eat healthy, but a coworker brings in hot and fresh Krispy Kreme doughnuts into the office? Or freshly made brownies. You know what I mean. Just substitute your favorite food temptation.

One newsletter reader wrote me to say that she faces food temptations constantly. Cindy asked, "How do I stay motivated in a very high stressful job with high fat food around me at all times?" With Thanksgiving just around the corner, I thought I should share the answer I gave her with you.

Remember the old Brady Bunch song I wrote about last week? Two of the ways you can stay on track are right in that song:

"When it's time to change you've got to rearrange
Move your heart to what you're gonna be
sha na na na na na na sha na na na na na..."

1.  Move your heart to what you're gonna be.  First, you need to do a heart check and be honest. Do you want to be healthier and reach your ideal weight/size or do you want to indulge in the high fat food more? Again, tell the truth.

Now, don't get down on yourself if the answer is "I want the high fat food more." If that's the case, you need to start working on coming up with strong enough reasons as to why you want to be healthier more. That's "move your heart to what you're gonna be." Instead of focusing on a temporary pleasure, you focus on the ultimate pleasure that you will have with a lifetime of good health and a body that pleases you.

2.    You've got to rearrange.  Once you get your heart right, rearrange your work area to make eating healthier easier so you're not as tempted by the high fat food. If you don't keep healthy food around yourself and you're hungry, of course you're going to eat high fat stuff. It's just human nature.

So create a nutritional safety zone around yourself. Keep a water jug at your desk at all times so you can stay hydrated and don't mistake thirst for hunger. Keep healthy snacks with you like apples, pears, oranges, can of vegetable soup, or some whole wheat crackers. Keep them in a basket on your desk or other place within easy reach. That way, you are more likely to eat that than go for the high fat items.

Now, having said all of that, I think it's good to have a treat every once in a while. I have a treat once a week, but I make it a good one. Don't waste calories on high fat items that you can take or leave. Save it for those foods that you really enjoy but only eat half of what you normally do and throw the rest away or give it away.

Last but not least, always start your morning by asking God to show you the way of escape from the temptations you might face that day. You are promised:

1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
 
So you've got the power to overcome this. Your job is to ensure that your heart wants to overcome it and also set up your environment to make it easy for you to overcome it. God will take care of the rest.

Are you facing tests that are hindering you in reaching your weight loss goals? Then check out my Take Back Your Temple ebook. In the book, I cover 10 specific tests you can face and provide solutions for them. You can order the ebook here:

http://www.takebackyourtemple.com/book 

If you follow these tips, then I know you will be able to handle food temptations with confidence so that they don't derail you from your ultimate health goals. 

Be blessed in health, wealth, and wisdom,