I don’t know how many of you have ever been to Las Vegas, but there’s a saying that, “The House always wins,” when referring to gambling.
As I was taking a walk last night, the thought that we’re
“playing” in a rigged system kept popping in my head. We’re constantly
surrounded by nutrient-poor food options (fast food and ultra-processed foods);
we have chaotic schedules that make it hard to cook nutrient-dense meals or
find time for physical activity; we live in spaces that make it more difficult
to have movement as a natural part of our days (more driving, long commutes,
less walking on average, etc.); and we have financial, environmental, cultural,
or social constraints that make it harder to focus on our health, wellness, or
weight loss.
As Busy Moms, it seems like we’re always trying to play by
The House rules, but they always have the edge. The casinos are DESIGNED
to give The House the edge.
And I kept asking myself, “How do we win against that? As
a Busy Mom myself, and as a health coach, how do I and the other Busy Moms I’m
trying to help, WIN against The House (the current world/situation we
live in that seems designed to feed us nutrient-poor foods and keep us
sedentary)?”
Then it hit me.
We have to BECOME THE HOUSE.
We can flip the script, stop playing inside the rigged system, and become The House ourselves.
Now, I’m not gonna lie, after the thought, “Become The
House,” my next thought was, “Seriously?! That’s just more WORK for
me to do!”
But the more I let the idea percolate, the more I realized,
no, it’s really NOT more work.
I came home and did some research on HOW The
House has the edge.
First, The House understands the odds and makes sure that
the mathematical advantage to every game is shifted in their favor.
Second, The House controls the environment in which you
play. No clocks or windows. Comfy surroundings. Free drinks. Using every tactic
to keep you in the casino as long as possible so you’ll keep playing (and
eventually losing).
Third, The House plays the long game. Again, it comes down
to the math. Odds are in the short-term, you’ll win a little – a $50 hit on a
slot, a round or two of blackjack. But eventually, the longer you play, the
more likely you are to start losing money, or at least giving what you WON
in the short-term back to the casino.
So, basically, casinos are using Math, Environment, and Time
to their advantage to keep you playing in Their House longer (indefinitely).
Yeah. We can TOTALLY Become The House!
For starters, just like Gamblers Anonymous, the first
step is admitting you have a problem. The “problem” is thinking you have to
keep playing in the first place. Or playing by their rules (the diet
industry/diet culture). You don’t. You now get to make your own rules for how
you want to approach your health, wellness, or weight loss. You get to try as
many ideas as you want! You get to pick what works with your lifestyle, your
schedule, your tastes and preferences, and you get to make it completely your
own.
Next, you need to know your odds….or the Math. What’s
your starting point? How far do you walk or how much physical activity do you
get each day? How many fruits and veggies are you eating each day? How much
protein and fiber? What are your biometric numbers (blood pressure, blood
sugar, cholesterol, etc.)? How much sleep are you getting every night? How much
water are you drinking each day? How do you manage your stress?
One-size-fits-all plans, programs, and routines may not work
for you. For example, “The House” says get anywhere from 30-60 minutes of
moderate intensity exercise each day. Okay. Well, maybe for YOU, it
needs to be broken up into 15-minute chunks throughout your day – morning,
lunchtime, after work, and just before bed. Or you need to get extra protein by
having a zero-sugar protein shake with your morning coffee for that
caffeine/protein power boost.
Now, It’s Time to Control Your Environment. I’m gonna
preach on this one a little bit, because I think it’s an underrated tool that
not enough Busy Moms utilize. I find it especially important when it comes to
making healthier food choices (keeping oatmeal crème pies out of the house or
bananas in plain sight). I also try to wear nice, COMFY clothes and
shoes I can WALK in especially when we’re going somewhere I can get
extra steps (ex. Mini-Me’s travel basketball games).
I know those might not seem like much, but things like
keeping workout clothes and walking shoes ready to go, keeping foods that you KNOW
trigger you to overeat out of the house, or having foods you LOVE
prepped and ready for delicious and healthy options are simple ways to make
your environment work for you. If The House can do it, so can you!
And finally, just like The House, you’re in it for the
Long Game. Those quick, short-term wins are important! And they feel great!
(As they should.) But if you want to beat The House at their own game – BECOME
THE HOUSE – you’ve got to think long-term.
Consistency.
Give yourself every advantage, just like The House does. It
might be all shining lights, whirling colors, and a symphony of sounds, but at
the heart of it all is a mission, a purpose and a plan. There is specific,
strategic design to every aspect of the casino. You can make it fun! You can
keep it exciting! You can boogie-oogie-oogie ‘til you just can’t boogie no
more! But behind the fun, the excitement, and the boogie-ing is the long-term
strategy you’re developing and implementing to win.
You don’t have to waste your energy playing someone else’s
game anymore. By Becoming The House, you get to make the rules, set the tone,
and design your health and wellness gameplan.
Why are you trying to play craps when your strength is
poker? Why are you pushing for kale salad when you don’t like kale? Or salad?
What if you focus on health instead of weight (knowing that there
will be body composition changes that go along with it), or strength over a
number on the scale?
Become The House. Make your rules for your health your way!
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