By June M. Lay, M.S. - Lifestyle Columnist - HealthNewsDigest.com
(HealthNewsDigest.com) - Yes, let's start small with small changes in our lifestyle habits, that is! Success starts with small changes and perhaps we can think of them as small steps. This is true whether we want to accomplish something new, or change something old. I like to compare our taking small steps to an infant learning to walk. An infant starts with small steps, takes a few falls and eventually he or she becomes stronger and the running toddler we can hardly catch.
I think that we like infants, can accomplish what we set out to do, because it's never too late to start by taking a few small steps. I'd also like to share two great websites, www.smallstep.gov and www.50millionpounds.com:80/ , both about helping us to take small steps toward a healthy weight and a healthy lifestyle (there's a separate link for our children too, at small step.gov). Both sites offer free, credible information, along with activity trackers. The 50 Million Pound Challenge, an initiative started by Dr. Ian Smith and State Farm Insurance, offers an online community, so vital for support during any change process. It has other tools too, such as journal keeping, and weight tracking. Let's reach out to take the steps, and now with credible websites we can start in our own home.
Okay, here is my philosophy about the change process, and why starting small can help us,
"Small Changes Lead to large Successes" is particularly true for making lifestyle changes. Whether we are looking to improve our fitness level, eat healthier, lose weight, or reduce our stress, " Start small". In fact, we can apply this to any project that seems overwhelming and to those we have been putting off. Why just last week, I suggested this very concept to a client about how to increase the amount of sleep he gets.
Let's consider,
We are creatures of habit. In fact, our brain has a center called the Limbic Center, which is the center for our emotions, reinforcements and habits. Have a bad habit? Well, the brain doesn't want us to change it, even if it is a negative behavior and even if it hurts us. How can we start? Start small!
Habits are hard to change. Whatever habit we are trying to make, change or stop, it is hard work. When we start with a small change, one which we know we can do, we set ourselves up for success. And most of us know that one success usually leads to another. When we break down a project into its simple components and start with one component at a time, we usually feel less overwhelmed and this can lead to more motivation and inspiration. I told my client to increase his sleep by starting with only an extra 1/2 hour. Start small.
Motivation grows! As we achieve each small success, we feel empowered to continue. Finally, success is not perfection. Experience a slip, mistake or setback? Let's stop and ask ourselves, what can we learn from it and change? Want to become motivated? Start small and succeed!
Think Positive. Research shows that when we believe in ourselves, when we believe we can do something, we are more likely to do it. When we don't think something is possible, research shows that even when it is, we are much less likely to achieve success. Make it small to achieve a positive outcome!
So, is there something we would like to achieve? Is there one small step we can take to get started which we know we can accomplish? An example of something small would be something concrete such as, "I will replace the butter on my bagel with fresh fruit jam". Notice, I'm not giving up the bagel too at the same time!
So, let's not wait another day to get one small change going at a time. Here's to thinking about what we can do, rather than what we haven't done or should!
June M Lay M.S.
www.junefit.com
One place to start on the weight loss healthy trail, is to find your BMI http://www.bmc.org/medicine/medicine/nutrition/images/BMI-Chart.png and go then go here to read more about the significance of BMI on our health risk http://www.consumer.gov/weightloss/bmi.htm
Also read more about losing fat weight safely here at http://www.junefit.com/tips_weightlosshp.htm
Click here to Google "Fitness Tips" , and find that Junefit ranks in the top ten at Google's search out of million results!
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June is Lifestyle Columnist at www.healthnewsdigest.com/
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