To be a success when it comes to making healthy lifestyle changes.
Warning:
Procrastination and declining motivation can ultimately sabotage your progress and chance of success (how long ago did you make those resolutions?).
Rules:
Pick an Activity You Like
If you're making a change in any part of your daily life, it has to be fun or make you feel good.
Make Your Decision Positive
If your goal is to quit smoking, or to moderate or quit drinking, the fact that you are likely prolonging your life should be a positive incentive. But if you need more, try minimizing the feeling of being deprived and substitute with something that makes you feel rewarded. A cup of exotic herbal tea or juice may not exactly be the tension reliever you need on a Friday night after a lousy week at the office, but neither is cirrhosis or a coronary.
If you are trying to eat a healthier, lower fat and fiber-rich diet, don't focus on the negative consequences--no more peanut butter cups or doughnuts. Rather, decide to eat well. Become an expert on recipes using good ingredients. Invite people over to experiment with your new found forays into cuisine.
Make Exercise A Positive, Too
This rule applies especially well to exercise. Think running alone at 6:00 a.m. sounds lousy? (Well, it does to some people...) What about weight training at a gym? Or dancing with friends? Or cycling? Or walking the dog a bit more often? There are many activities out there, and the people involved in them aren't your gym class nightmares. They are ordinary folks who like being together and want to have others join them.
Do It With A Friend
Just as your camp buddy kept your head above water at summer camp, so can a buddy keep you from sinking without a trace as you stray from your resolutions. Where and how you find your buddy is a slightly different story. A spouse, a colleague, a significant other is usually the first person you'll turn to. But if that's not your style, maybe an online friend can help.
Find Help Online
In the Health and Fitness Forum there are support groups, some aimed just at those quitting smoking or giving up alcohol. They follow your progress, share your successes, and help you get back on the right path should you stray. When a forbidden cigarette or drink sounds good at 2:00 a.m., log on...you'll find someone who's there and who's probably been right where you are.
Similarly, in Cooks Online there is a Nutrition/Fat Fighters section. The members there support and encourage one another as they strive to become fitter and lose weight.
Set Small Goals
Fitness isn't instant. It took you years to gain the weight, lose the muscle tone, smoke two packs a day. Don't set yourself up to fail by anticipating all your goals at once. Celebrate two days from cigarettes, or two pounds lost, or an increase in endurance of five minutes during exercise.
Use Effective Strategy
Two articles in the Health and Fitness Library address different strategies to deal effectively with goal setting. MOTIVE.TXT and PRCRST.TXT are good ones to start with. Try and track your success with software. In Health and Fitness, there are a number of programs for just such purposes. Watching your progress can help you realize just how close you are to your goals and to your success at the Resolution Game.
