Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Making Behavior Change Stick

Hello everyone! Last week we talked about how easy it is to regain weight after you lose it, and how lifestyle change can help you lose weight and keep it off. I mentioned that there are many things you can do to change your lifestyle to support weight management, and remarked that it's a good thing there are so many things you can do. Without a doubt, there's something you can do -- today! -- that will move you toward a healthier, happier lifestyle.

There's a dark side to that, though. We're about halfway through the December session of Lose Weight and Keep It Off, and several students have remarked that they're feeling overwhelmed by how many goals they're trying to juggle. They feel guilty if they don't do everything they can to lose weight...and then feel worried because they can't keep up.

If you can relate, know that these feelings are perfectly normal. (This is especially true if you've been immersed in the diet mentality, and have been taught that it's all about calories in versus calories out.) That said, it's crucial to avoid getting bogged down by all the different factors that affect your weight. Remember, you don't have to do weight management perfectly to do it well...but you have to do something differently!

So, don't let all the possibilities overwhelm you. Instead, choose only as many goals as you can realistically manage right now. Remember, your goal isn't immediate weight loss. Your goal is to make lifestyle change you can live with, so you lose that weight...and keep it off.

Also, keep in mind that the things you're working on right now will get easier with time and practice. If you told me five years ago that I'd feel thirsty if I didn't drink at least 2 liters of water a day, I'd have laughed out loud. That third liter of water can be a challenge, but if I don't get 2 liters by suppertime, I want to drink some water. Hydration is still my biggest challenge when it comes to weight management, but it's much easier than it was a few years ago. The same kinds of changes can -- and will -- happen for you, too.

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