Have you ever wondered why changing health behaviors are so hard? The reasons can be the impact of our environment and culture. Some of us were raised to always “clean” you plate. Perhaps, you were raised in a home of social eaters. Years of engaging in these types of behaviors can lead toward negative reinforcement of breaking these social requirements. Only through making a firm and realistic commitment to change can those taboos be broken.
Thankfully there are methods we can employ to make our desired change a reality. First, research and gather as much information as possible about the new behavior you are are undertaking. If it is to exercise more, consider what kinds of programs fit into your budget, lifestyle, and enjoyment level. Weight the pros and cons. Be honest with yourself. Don’t get caught up in flashy fads. Do what is enjoyable and sustainable for 6 months or more. Remember, it isn’t the speed but the consistency that get you to your goal.
Reward yourself for each successful milestone achieved. It must be something that supports the new behavior. If the goal is weight loss, don’t reward yourself with an overindulgence of sweets.
Set realistic and time-based goals. Achievable goals build on one another to increase mastery experience needed to overcome future hurdles. Setting a specific time to achieve each goal keeps the urgency in the front of our minds.
Finally, have a list of substitute alternatives already established for those moments of challenge. If you know you snack at midnight, establish countermeasures. Perhaps eat more healthy foods at dinner. Maybe get rid of the junk snack foods for healthier alternatives. Replace the ice cream for healthy frozen yogurt.
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
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