Making Changes
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One of the hardest parts of making change is making it stick -- making it into a new, healthy habit.
Turning a dietary change into a habit takes both mental and physical work. When making a change you have to make a conscious effort to remember it, or you will easily slip back into your old habits. It also helps to take physical action to help your new habit along.
For the mental part of the task, summarize your ideas about how to make the change into a short, easy-to-remember goal.
Goal: I will pack a lunch to work three times a week.
For the physical part, you might write your own mantra, a short phrase you can repeat often that reminds you of your goal. Use it to focus on your goal and to direct your thoughts into actions.
Mantra: I don't need to eat out every day. I will lose weight.
Self-hypnosis can also help you make changes, and help you avoid thoughts that lead to actions that thwart your weight loss efforts. (Click here to learn more.)
I encourage you to identify the habits that you need to change in order to achieve weight loss and maintenance. Then start working on them one at a time, and soon you will reach your goals.
Healthy regards,
Megan Porter, RD
