Welcome back! It is my sincere hope that you were able to pick one or two of the tips we learned in Part 3 and begin to apply it to your nutrition routine. I’m pretty well hydrated, I try to eat whole foods, and hubby and I prepare our meals, making enough for leftovers for another night when we’re short on time or so that we can take it with us for lunch. My challenge, now, is figuring out how to fit smaller meals into my day, which is turning out to be incredibly difficult since my schedule isn’t always the same every day. I don’t know if you have the same issue, but if so, I’ll let you know if I come up with anything that may help us . . .
Today I want to tackle more of the psychological aspect of losing weight. We all know we need to eat good food and exercise, however that is much easier said than done. It takes time and effort, for sure, but I feel that the underlying message of the whole documentary has more to do with changing our mindset first. So how do we do that? Keith Klein offers his 5 Steps to Self-Change:
- Awareness – This is the stage when we become incredibly aware that what we’ve been doing isn’t working any longer. It can be triggered by something someone says to us, the fact that our clothes don’t fit, seeing ourselves in a picture, a medical scare or condition, or any number of things. (This is my ‘slap in the face’ or the ‘holy s___’ phase.) Keith says that these external motivators are great for making us aware, however they aren’t quite enough to bring about change.
- Contemplation – This stage has us asking ourselves how we can institute and apply changes to our current lives. How will it fit into our social lives? How do we put the changes into action? This phase requires taking stock of our current situation and figuring out how to implement change. Keith says we can’t skip this step, but he warns us not to spend too much time here because it leads to procrastination. (This is my ‘analysis paralysis’ or ‘getting ready to get ready to get ready . . .’ phase.)
- Knowledge – This is a tricky phase. Of course we need to arm ourselves with information, however there are a couple of things to consider. First, there is no one-size-fits-all method for health. We need to find the right information for us, individually, about how to change. Second, we need to be careful of extremes and defective information that can derail our efforts and set us up for failure. (This is my ‘do I actually see myself doing this for the rest of my life?’ phase.)
- Action – Time to put your desires and research to the test. It’s time to “implement, experiment, and adjust” your plan. See what works and what doesn’t. Are your proposed changes sustainable? (This is my ‘cross it off the list’ or ‘tweak it’ phase.) Keith sends us a special message here: he says that if something doesn’t work, revisit Step 2, possibly Step 3, then advance to Step 4 again. We may do this several times until we find what works for us. He wants to make it clear, however, that going back to Step 2 does not equal failure. It simply means that we have more to learn and that we shouldn’t give up.
- Self-accountability – This is the final stage when all of your determination, research, and hard work pay off, you get results, and your new lifestyle becomes part of who you are. Keith describes it as intrinsic motivation, meaning “it’s what you want to do, not what you have to do”. And there’s a big different between the two. (This is my ‘ugh slug’ or ‘if I don’t do it I get antsy’ phase. In other words, eating the not-so-good-for-me foods make me feel sluggish and when I skip exercise I get kinda twitchy. Gotta do something.)
Keeping ourselves motivated is important and the experts give some good tips for success:
- Find a support group/network that is as invested in this as you are. Accountability is essential, otherwise it won’t work.
- Create a visual board that highlights your goals and things you want to accomplish.
- Keep your goal front and center in your consciousness. The moment we get comfy is the moment we could slip. Keith suggests making ourselves uncomfortable again if we lack motivation. “Buy a pair of pants that are too tight,” he says . . .
- Ask others who have been successful for ideas or come up with your own ways of keeping yourself on track that will work for you. I think everything is better when it’s on your own terms.
I hope that this information sheds some light on past behaviors or habits and helps you determine your best course of action. Please take some time to watch the documentary and take away the things that mean the most to you. And I truly hope that it fuels you in your journey toward your goals.
Next week I’ll close everything up and share the experts’ tips for success. Until then I wish you health and happiness. Have a great week!
#personalgrowth
#BeyondWeightLoss
The information provided on this website is intended for educational purposes only and is, in no way, a substitute for professional medical advice. The events, practices, and opinions discussed here are those of the author and should be treated as such. ALWAYS talk with your doctor about conditions, medications, and concerns you have about your health and work together to determine the best course of action for you.
Wholeness Health and YOU! 