You know by now that health and wellness are my passion, and spreading the word about improving people's lives is one part of my mission.

When my patients or athletes try to use the word "Cheat Day" around me, I must let them know that that term is not allowed. I will let them use "Reward Day." Because I don't want them to start feeding negative thoughts into their mindsets.

Positive thoughts and attitudes are critical for the entire wellness journey.

The following is an automated transcript and may be edited for grammar.

Dr. Matt Chalmers [00:00:02] You know, there are lots of times I've told people that I won't let them use the term cheat day when we're talking about their diet. I will let you use reward day because I don't want you to start feeding yourself negative thoughts.

Dr. Matt Chalmers [00:00:16] Cheating has no positive function associated with it there is no, you know, oh, they cheated to win that's awesome nobody says that or oh, they cheated on their significant other and that was great that's not how cheating works.

Dr Matt Chalmers [00:00:31] So if you tell yourself that you're going to cheat on your own diet, you're going to cheat on yourself that's not a positive thing. If you say, hey, I'm going to have pizza and beer this weekend because I've kept my diet, my exercise really clean all week and I've earned it knock yourself out you did you earned it you worked for it you've earned it it's a reward day.

Dr. Matt Chalmers [00:00:50] Now, it's not just that it's everything else that you put in your mind you let your mouth speak. If you speak negativity, especially about yourself, I'm so stupid or I'm just not good enough or, you know, I'm so useless, I'm so worthless you're going to train your brain to believe that.

Dr Matt Chalmers [00:01:07] If you tell yourself, I'm working real hard on this and one day I'm going to be great, then you're going to believe that if you tell yourself, I can do this. Boom, you can one day do it. Now people always say, Oh, that's just silly, blah, blah. The mind is radically more powerful than you give credit for.

Dr. Matt Chalmers [00:01:27] Look up psychosomatic pregnancy there are times when women have believed so much that they were pregnant that their belly swelled up like they were nine months pregnant with no baby inside. They looked, they felt hormones changed the whole nine yards you couldn't tell they weren't pregnant until you did an ultrasound, found there was no baby their mind did that.

Dr Matt Chalmers [00:01:50] I mean, look at PTSD it destroys people it makes them do all sorts of crazy things it was mind mind did that. You can decide how you want to alter the trajectory of your life by changing the way you think, and especially the way you talk.

Dr. Matt Chalmers [00:02:09] You can have thoughts that are not great work on that last don't let those things come out of your mouth. If you start speaking negativity, you will speak negativity into existence with yourself and know how silly that sounds but that's what happens if you start to say things even as a joke you will start to believe them.

Dr Matt Chalmers [00:02:29] So say great things about yourself say great things about your spouse, say great things about your children find something good to say about them all the time find something great to say about yourself. If you can't find anything that you believe, that's great now say that you're working on something.

Dr. Matt Chalmers [00:02:45] Man one day it's going to be great because I'm doing X, Y, and Z. I'm going to I'm going to lose all the facts, I've changed my diet, I've started exercising, I'm going to get where I want to go it's going to be great it's not today it's not tomorrow but I'm going to be there because I'm going to do the work I'm going to earn it tell yourself that.

Dr. Matt Chalmers [00:03:02] Don't just look in the mirror and say, Oh, I'm so fat this isn't working hasn't worked yet. I'm not there yet, I'm going to get there it's just going to take some time. If you change the way you talk to yourself, you will change your life again, I realize how silly that sounds, but it's 100% the fact. So change your life by changing your speech.

Check out Chalmers Pillarsofwellness.com for Wellness updates! And ask me any questions you have at questions@chalmerswellness.com. I will answer all of them and look forward to hearing from you.

The Chalmers Wellness Stubstack just launched. Comment, Like, and Interact with other people on their wellness journey. Communities can make a difference. DrChalmers.substack.com

Dr. Matt Chalmers

Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only. Before taking any action based on this information, you should first consult with your physician or health care provider. This information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health providers with any questions regarding a medical condition, your health, or wellness.