Habit change is hard, there’s no doubt about it. Habits develop for a very good reason: to make our lives easier. Take away the ease that a habit brings, and life becomes more difficult.
The habit might be as simple as which shoe you put on first, or which arm is on top when you cross your arms. It’s not difficult to make the decision to move to the other side and it works perfectly well (even if it’s less comfortable) when you’re thinking about it. What happens, though, when you’re distracted? Yep, you revert to the old way.
When people want to lose weight, they often make the mistake of thinking that the right information will create the results they’re after. Information is important, but even with the best of intentions most find it very difficult to implement.
‘Dieters’ generally fall into one of three groups:
- the first group get started well, last a day or two, and then forget their good intentions;
- the second group lasts a week or a month; and
- the third group takes the information, implements it, and maintains their new habits.
Which group do you fall into?
If you’re in group 3, good for you. You’ve taken the information, created new behaviours, and those behaviours are now habits. You’ve got the weight, vitality, wellness, and lifestyle you want.
If you’re in group 1 or 2, you’re definitely not alone. In fact, most people discover that good intentions are simply not enough to help them develop lasting lifestyle and behaviour change.
Good intentions, motivation, and will power last only so long. After that, life gets in the way. Unexpected events, social activities, family dramas, stress, tiredness, temptations, and emotions can all sabotage the best of intentions.
Those in groups 1 and 2 need more than information and good intentions: they need support.
Support comes in many forms. You may be lucky enough to have someone shop, prepare, and cook all your meals for you, and they understand and oblige your need for new healthier habits.
Most people don’t have the luxury of a personal shopper and cook. Instead, a partner or other family members might encourage and support them, helping with the food challenges that inevitably come up, and be happy to also change their eating patterns to make it easier.
If this is still not sounding like your situation, we can help. Our Health Coaches are the experts at one-on-one support to help you make sense of new information, tackle and overcome challenges, and be your biggest cheerleaders as you develop the new habits to last a lifetime.
We not only help you lose weight, we help ensure it’s the last time you’ll ever need to do so.