Are you looking to get healthy or improve your health in some way? No matter what kind of change you want to make to your lifestyle, the way to do it is pretty much the same. If you'd like to eat healthier, lose weight, build muscle, whatever, read on to learn how to make the kind of change that sticks and isn't overwhelming.
Implementing change is hard, no matter what change is needed. If you change too many things at once, you're more likely to fail. So set yourself up for success by following the steps below.
Step 1: Make a list of what this looks like. From where you are now, what are the changes that need to be made to reach your goal? This might be increasing intake of vegetables, having an afternoon snack, etc.
Step 2: Rank the changes in the order that you want to make them. This might depend on the time of year (cutting out sweets right before a holiday might not be the best timing!), which ones you're most excited about, or which ones you think are easiest.
Step 3: Start on the first change. Give yourself at least 2 weeks to focus on this one change. It might take more time than that, and that's okay! For change to be sustainable and longterm, you need to give yourself time to adjust. Once you're comfortable with the first change, when you get to the point where it feels easy or you have consistency with it, you're ready to move onto the next one!
Step 4: Choose the next change on your list and repeat step 3. Sometimes the timeline needed for each change to feel comfortable is different each time. It can get easier to make changes, but some changes are also easier than others, so be kind to yourself and don't rush it! If you move on before you're ready, it will make it harder to sustain all changes.
Step 5: Celebrate! Take the time to look back on your progress. It'll feel slow at times, but you'll soon find yourself doing things that once were hard, without a second thought! Consider giving yourself a little reward at certain intervals to keep motivation strong. That said, avoid using food-based rewards, this can get tricky! Choosing rewards like doing something with friends/family, buying yourself new clothes, or something you want will reward all your hard work!
If you need help with goal setting, or knowing what a reasonable goal is, get in touch and we can talk about what this would look like for you!