# “I Just Purchased a New BPA-Free Tupperware Set”

This remark, made by my friend Anna, took me by surprise. Anna is an exceptionally skilled attorney. She possesses critical thinking skills and excels in cutting through nonsense. However, the Anna I knew appeared to be falling into some painful traps that seemed to elude her discerning inner critic.

She has wanted to shed around 15lbs for a while and approached me to express how *stuck* she felt in achieving this goal. She mentioned an option she was considering: the new BPA-free tupperware set.

“Interesting. What led you to concentrate on that?” I inquired.

“Well, I’ve been reading about how microplastics in food containers can disrupt our hormones and lead to weight gain,” she replied.

I narrowed my eyes.

To provide some context, this was right after she shared how she’d been battling consistency at the gym, relying on takeout frequently, and sacrificing boring old sleep for adrenaline-fueled doom scrolling. So I asked:

“What about attempting to be more consistent with your workouts, or preparing more home-cooked meals during the week?”

And Anna replied:

**“Yeah, but I’ve attempted that countless times. If it were that straightforward, it would have worked already.”**

## We’ve All Experienced This Before

Ignored or postponed those challenging but worthwhile habit adjustments in favor of some ultra-specific, niche quick fix that’s supposed to “overhaul everything.”

Spent hours researching the ultimate, most optimal workout instead of dedicating those hours to simply performing the basic workout you already know how to execute.

Waited to feel more inspired, motivated, or just [less busy](https://www.precisionnutrition.com/pause-button-mentality-infographic).

**Why do we engage in this behavior?**

Acquiring new equipment or a trendy supplement *feels* like making progress. Consuming YouTube videos or articles about things you can alter *feels* like you’re making a move. And waiting for the “right moment” *feels*, well, appropriate.

**Except, nothing genuinely changes until we take real, consistent action.**

We’re clever, us humans. And we’ve devised numerous cunning methods to sidestep the basic, unexciting, difficult *actions* we need to take that truly drive change.

In this article, we’ll delve into how to take an honest and compassionate look at why you might be sidetracking yourself from taking impactful action. You’ll discover:

– What the **most impactful health habits** truly are
– **Three common obstacles** to achieving sustainable progress
– A **4-step process you can implement to start taking positive, productive action**
– How to **maintain consistency**—and reach your goals

## The Essentials You Know You Should Implement (But Likely Aren’t Doing Regularly)

We all recognize what those basic, fundamental health habits are:

**▶ Exercising, ideally 30 minutes a day**, engaging in moderate-to-vigorous efforts, with a combination of aerobic and resistance training.

**▶ Consuming predominantly nutritious, minimally-processed foods.** If 80 percent of your diet consists of whole or minimally-processed options, you’re doing exceptionally well. (Translation: “Perfection” isn’t necessary; pizza can fit into a healthy diet.)

**▶ Eating adequate protein to support muscle mass, appetite control, and body recomposition goals, if applicable.** Aim for approximately 1.2 to 2.2 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight (for most individuals, this equates to around 4-6 palm-sized servings of lean protein daily).

**▶ Prioritizing seven to eight hours of good-quality sleep.** You can’t always dictate how well you sleep, but allocating some wind-down time before bed can aid, as can waking up at the same time each day.

**▶ Avoiding or at least limiting excessive consumption of alcohol or drugs, including cigarettes.** Not enjoyable, we know. But it serves a worthwhile purpose.

We could easily add aspects like emphasizing positive, nurturing social connections, managing stress, and probably more, but the list above is rarely fully practiced.

In fact, only *six percent* of Americans engage in all five of the following fundamental health behaviors:1

– Meet physical activity guidelines
– Don’t smoke
– Consume alcohol in moderation (or not at all)
– Sleep at least seven hours
– Maintain a “normal” BMI

**If you’re doing the calculations, that means nearly *94 percent* of Americans *aren’t* performing the basics.**

Yet, these foundational behaviors also support us in achieving a long list of common goals, whether that’s attaining a healthy weight, enhancing athletic performance, or simply living a longer, healthier life.

So why