Don’t Think About a Purple Polar Bear
Now you’re picturing one, right? The same thing happens with sugar cravings. Here’s how to help your clients shift their focus when they're facing a strong craving to eat junk food.
Happy 2-Tips Tuesday!
Here are two ideas to consider this week.
By Jennifer Broxterman, RD
1. Don’t Think of a Purple Polar Bear
“I cannot stop thinking about sugar. I crave it constantly—I think I’m addicted! Can you help me?”
🟣 “Don’t think about a purple polar bear,” I replied.
And just like that, their brain conjured up a big, fluffy, purple polar bear.
That’s how our minds work—when we fixate on what we can’t have, it becomes all we can think about. Tell yourself sugar is off-limits forever, and suddenly, it’s an obsession.
Cue the cycle: cravings → loss of control → guilt → repeat.
As a coach, you’ve probably seen this with your own clients. They swear off sugar, only to end up bingeing on it later. So instead of reinforcing restriction, try this:
Help them look where they want to go.
Think of driving in a snowstorm. If you hit an icy patch and panic, staring at a telephone pole while repeating “don’t hit the pole, don’t hit the pole”—guess what? You’re heading straight for that pole. But if you keep your eyes on the road and calmly steer between the lines, you regain control.
Sugar is the telephone pole. The more clients obsess over avoiding it, the more power it has over them. Instead, guide them to focus on the road—the habits that actually move them forward:
✅ Load up on fiber and veggies.
✅ Include protein at every meal.
✅ Drink more water.
✅ Manage stress with movement.
✅ Prioritize sleep.
For the next month, challenge your clients to shift their mindset: instead of fixating on what they can’t have, help them focus on the choices that make them feel their best. When they stop staring at the “telephone pole,” they’ll finally feel in control of the wheel.
2. Share This With Your Clients 🟣
Help your clients rethink their approach to sugar cravings with the Purple Polar Bear lesson.
Share this on Instagram
#share
Want to share this issue of 2-Tips Tuesday?
www.prospernutritioncoaching.com/blog/purple-polar-bear
❤️🐻🌈
Jen Broxterman
Registered Dietitian
Prosper Nutrition Coaching
Thanks for reading. Here are a few additional ways I might be able to help you.
Free
Free Stuff: All Prosper Freebies
Podcast: Podcast Shows
Masterclass: Liftoff Course
Paid
Mini-Course: Accelerator Program
Certification: Nutrition Coaching Certification
Jennifer Broxterman, MSc, RD
REGISTERED DIETITIAN & SPORTS NUTRITIONIST
• Award-winning Foods & Nutrition University Professor
• Successful entrepreneur of owner of NutritionRx
• 16 year CrossFit affiliate owner with my husband
• Founder of Prosper Nutrition Coaching & lead nutrition coach
