How to be Successful in Making Diet and Lifestyle Changes │Article by Jean Menegus
Introduction
Making changes to one’s diet and lifestyle is not easy. People who have tried for themselves know this is true. These changes are significant, and it’s unrealistic to think we can do it alone. The first step is to acknowledge this, be honest with yourself and get some supports in place. I have seen many people fail in their efforts because they don’t have support from someone who understands what they are going through. The main reason people need support when making changes is the unconscious mind; It's not about willpower at all! Unless you are motivated and focused on your goal, you won’t be able to make the changes. As many studies show, willpower is not a reliable resource; it runs out after a while, especially with stress and fatigue
Acknowledge self sabotaging behaviors
Self-sabotage is real, and it's a natural part of being human. We all have moments when we're not at our best, and sometimes we need to be honest with ourselves about why we don't want to follow through on our goals. This can be as simple as needing more information or support from others.
Self-sabotage also tends to rear its head when things get tough—and that's okay! It can be helpful to acknowledge this rather than shaming yourself for it happening in the first place. If you've been having a rough week and are feeling like giving up on your diet or lifestyle changes, don't let that stop you from continuing with whatever method works best for you (e.g., journaling). You may even find that talking about your feelings with someone else helps alleviate some of them.
Making changes to one’s diet and lifestyle is not easy. People who have tried for themselves know this is true
The most important thing is to get support from someone that has good knowledge and advice for your specific health issue or goals. It can be difficult and lonely making changes to your diet and lifestyle, you need someone who can support you through the initial stages.
You need to be honest with yourself and your short comings, as well as having a plan for finances and organising your time so that it’s not too overwhelming. You also want to make sure that when starting out on this journey, you are fully motivated and committed in order for it not being such a hard task for yourself. If at any point during this process, things feel overwhelming or challenging ,then this could lead back into old ways of eating/living which feels safer and more comfortable than what was originally intended.
When starting out on this journey, there needs to be some sort of motivation within yourself, such as living longer as a grandparent in your family's lives, which will hopefully help push past any challenges along the way!
These changes are significant, and it’s unrealistic to think we can do it alone
You know what it takes to lose weight, get healthy and feel great. But if you’ve tried and failed in the past, it can be easy to believe that no one else will understand your situation.
You need support from someone who has been where you are or is currently there with you. It could be a friend or family member, but many people find that working with a health practitioner or counsellor (or both) is the best way forward when it comes to getting on track with their goals.
You’ll be making a commitment to yourself: You are the most important person in this process. It’s up to you to make sure that your goals and dreams come true, and having someone else on board with you will help keep you accountable during times when it would be easy to give in and just eat whatever junk food is around! -It can be hard to tell when your motivation is fading: When you’re feeling down or unmotivated, it can be hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel—even if there is one. Working with a health coach or counsellor will help keep things moving forward so that motivation never fades away completely.
The first step is to acknowledge this, be honest with yourself and get help
To start, it's important to be honest with yourself and get help. Make a list of the things you want to change, and write down the reasons why you want to change. Ask yourself what you are afraid of, what could happen if things don't go well. Get support from a practitioner around the emotions associated with this change for you.
It's good practice for me to write down my intentions/what is realistic for me to achieve for the day, each time before I go into work, so I can have them in front of me as reminders during the day. I often ask my husband for help so that I have enough fuel and enough time to care for myself.
The main reason people need support when making changes is the unconscious mind
The main reason people need support when making changes is the unconscious mind.
It is powerful and runs our lives without us being aware of it. The mind is like a computer that can either be used as a tool, or it can run your life. To really make changes in your life you need to be honest with yourself and ask what you are afraid of? If you don’t ask yourself this question then how will you know if your fear has been overcome or not? What are my issues? How am I going to overcome them? I have had clients say things like “I don’t know why I am not able to stick to my plan,” and usually this can be blamed on subconscious habits we have picked up by mimicking others and some of the negative aspects of our culture from a young age.
It’s not about willpower at all! Unless you are motivated and focused on your goal, you won’t be able to make the changes. As many studies show, willpower is not a reliable resource; it runs out after a while, especially with stress and fatigue
It’s not about willpower at all! Unless you are motivated and focused on your goal, understand a little bit about subconscious patterns about how it tries to keep you "safe" (by copying others around you), you won’t be able to make the changes. As mentioned, willpower is not a reliable resource; it runs out after a while, especially with stress and fatigue. But what if I told you that there was more than one way to change your life? What if I told you that nutrition and lifestyle counselling could help?
The mind is where the problem lies. The mind needs to change because it's our biggest obstacle in making healthy choices and sticking with them long-term. That's why nutrition and lifestyle counselling can help us overcome this obstacle by teaching us how our minds work so we can live healthier lives!
We need help getting into a new mindset that will allow us to feel comfortable with the change and see its long-term benefits
Find a therapist that you feel comfortable with.
If you are having issues finding the right therapist, call around and ask for referrals from trusted friends or family members.
Check out the time commitment: some practitioners will offer discounts if you commit for longer periods of time (such as 12 sessions). It may also mean that the therapist’s schedule is more flexible at certain times during the week/month/year and thus easier for both of you to work together on this project.
Finding the right practitioner can help us achieve these goals by providing regular coaching, counselling, accountability and support that will lead us to success
For example, if you're looking to lose weight, find someone with experience helping people achieve their health goals. You should also look at their approach to coaching, counselling and accountability so that it aligns with how you want to be supported during the process of making lifestyle changes, especially with your Code of Health and Disability rights in mind. It is still mind boggling to me how many health professionals don't understand personal choice or informed consent, and pressure clients into really uncomfortable situations.
Conclusion
We are all capable of making changes in our lives and achieving success. It may not seem like it at first, but we are naturally good at adapting to new situations and environments. This is why we have continued to survive on this planet for so long as a species! With that being said, it can still feel overwhelming when you start thinking about the magnitude of change needed in order to reach your goals. If this sounds familiar then don’t worry; there is hope! In fact many therapists and coaches will tell you that the most important part of their job is helping people find support systems so they can stay committed over time.