Making the Change to Be Healthy: Six Secrets for Success

Are you trying to change something in your life? Do you want to be healthier and feel more energetic? We tend to lull ourselves into believing we are healthy because we wake up each morning, go to work, and go home. We never realize what may be happening inside of us or how the habits we develop can, over time, take a dramatic and serious toll on our health. Here are six secrets to making a healthy decision and sticking with it.

One Decide what you want to do -Okay, this is an obvious step in the process but remember to focus on something you enjoy doing or want to do. This will make the task a great deal easier. Try picking things like walking the dog, working out at the gym with friends or alone, taking a new group exercise class, riding your bike, or dancing.

Two What is in this for you -Find a positive focus to motivate yourself and ask a simple question, "What is in this for me?" Are you trying to lose weight? Do you want more energy to play with your kids? Living a long and healthy life? Now envision what your life is going to be like once you accomplished that goal. Hold onto the positive feelings such as high self-esteem, pride, feeling great, and feeling more energetic. Remind yourself that every step you take brings you closer and closer to realizing that goal.

Three Small Steps -Try not to create goals that are out of reach. If you want to lose 50 pounds try losing it in 15 pound increments. Create an objective like, "I will lose 15 pounds by September so I can wear those old jeans again." Then, after you reach that goal set another one that's similar until you reach your final weight loss goal. Attainable goals, such as losing one pound a week, will help to keep us motivated. Don't set your goals to high and become unmotivated. Furthermore, trying to do several things at once will almost guarantee failure. Pick one thing and stick with it.

Four There will be detours -Anticipate detours in the road ahead. You could feel great and ambitious one day and then fall off the program the next. When you start a routine you're more likely to stick with it and give 100% effort. The longer you are following the same schedule the more likely you are to get bored and try to take the easy way out. Don't hide under the covers in the morning. Get up and go to the gym before the office. Anticipate these feelings before you have them so you are ready to deal with and overcome them. Remember that being busy is one of the main reasons people stop their routine. Do not fall into this trap. Make time!

Five Tell everyone you know -If you have a goal you are trying to achieve then tell everyone you know. The more people who are aware of your intentions the more likely you will accomplish your goal. Making a public commitment helps to keep us motivated.

Six Find support and don't do this alone -Get a buddy to keep you motivated. Find someone with a common interest and you will feed off their enthusiasm and energy. Plus, it is rewarding to hear how good your doing and to tell your friend the results you see as well. Get yourself a buddy!