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Would you run out of fingers, and maybe even toes, if you
used them to count your tries at adopting a healthy lifestyle?
Many of us would. The reason? Often it’s that we need to change
how we try to make changes. How we make the journey, not whether
we always reach our exact goals, determines our success. And
how we make the journey is really about our ability to support
ourselves along the way, instead of falling back into judgmental
and self-defeating ways of thinking and doing.
If you're thinking about making another run at a healthy
lifestyle, consider these steps along the way.
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Get real. Whether we're trying to start eating
healthier or become more physically active, the first step
is to be clear about our goals...and clear whether they
are something we can achieve. For example, if you currently
walk once a week, and you begin to strive for five, what's
the chance you'll get there regularly? Immediately trying
to fit four extra workouts into your busy week may leave
you struggling. Instead, think about an initial goal of
walking twice a week. Small increases --'baby steps' --
build on success. As you feel good about your ability to
do one extra walk, you'll see your motivation ratchet up
for another, 'til you reach that higher goal.
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Get committed. We're talking about energy and
dedication to find healthy behaviors that work for you.
Which of these statements sounds like you? "I'll
try to walk twice a week," or "I'm committed
to walking twice a week." It's much easier to shrug
off the former promise to yourself. If it doesn't feel
right to say you're committed to something, explore why.
Is the goal you've set really right for you?
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Give up 'shoulds.' A tangle of beliefs and thoughts
about what we 'should' do or where we 'should' be with
our fitness and health can threaten our ability to find
what's right for us. Refuse to follow the latest and greatest
new diet. Make peace with your body size, and buy a flattering
outfit for that important event rather than trying to
lose weight to fit into an old favorite. You may still
be able to improve your fitness, but you don't have to
put feeling good on hold until you do.
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Remind yourself. Whether it's remembering to
eat lunch, or getting in that two-mile walk, add your
new behaviors to your 'to do' list. When you check them
off as done, you'll also give yourself an extra boost
of satisfaction.
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Seek support. Support is one of the key predictors
of success at lifestyle change. Buddy up with friends
or family to accomplish your goals, read inspirational
books or success stories. Join support groups, or seek
the help of a qualified therapist or counselor if needed.
Remember: While it may seem to take a lot of work when we
first start making healthy lifestyle changes, they become
second nature after a while. So hang in there with your new
positive behaviors. Soon, they'll just be the way you do things.
For 37 years, Green Mountain at Fox Run has
developed and refined a life-changing program exclusively
for women seeking permanent strategies for healthy weight
loss and health. More than just another weight
loss retreat and spa, Green Mountain combines proven
science with what works in the real world, to offer an innovative
non-diet lifestyle program. Our core weight
loss program offers an integrated curriculum of practical,
liveable techniques that helps women take charge of their
eating, their bodies and their health. Unlike health
spas or adult
weight loss camps, our approach is not focused on just
losing weight but on how to keep it off for a lifetime.
Our participants' long-term weight
loss success is among the highest of any program, as
documented in peer-reviewed scientific literature. Learn
more about our fitness
and healthy weight loss retreat.
©2007
Green Mountain at Fox Run, Ludlow, Vermont. This information
is the property of Green Mountain at Fox Run. Permission
to use single copies for personal, noncommercial use is
authorized. For all other purposes, please see details.
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