What does learning to tolerate discomfort have to do with a continuous commitment to health and wellness? Well, it's a little tricky. I'm not asking for you to recalibrate your pain threshold. What I am asking of you is to check in with your ability to hang in there when something doesn't feel very good - physically or emotionally. Be honest with yourself - do you tend to avoid doing things that create discomfort? If so, it must be hard to commit to a healthy lifestyle over the long haul.

Come on - fitness is not always fun - actually, many, many times it's not fun at all until it's done. It kinda hurts: muscles burning, lungs burning, hard to breath, sweat in eyes, etc.

Making healthy food choices is also not always the most comfortable experience. Since our bodies are hard-wired to crave sugar, fat and salt we learn to work with these cravings and not follow their every whim. 

What would happen if we avoided feeling uncomfortable? We would most likely follow the path of least resistance in both fitness choices and food choices. For example - drive cars instead of walking, riding bikes; take elevators/escalators instead of stairs; have our shopping delivered to our doors via internet; grocery shopping instead of growing our own food; eating prepared foods or convenience foods instead of preparing meals and on and on and on.

So, the next time you have the opportunity to feel a little or a lot uncomfortable in the pursuit of a healthy lifestyle, do it. Take the road less traveled, the path of more resistance not least. It may hurt a little more, but it will be worth it.