A Few Weeks of Change Equals a New You

Are you interested in exercising and eating a healthy diet but you simply don't know how to get started? If this sound like you and you are truly interested in a healthy lifestyle then you can make the change. All you have to do is conscientiously focus on making these changes and in just a few weeks time they will become habit. This sounds impossible, but it it's true. When you begin a new habit of eating healthy and exercising for at least for 4-6 weeks then this new lifestyle will become your new habit.

Getting Started

It's not easy to change your lifestyle. In fact, it will require some effort on your part to get started. But, once you are on the road to a healthy lifestyle you will find that it's much easier to maintain your new habits than maintain an old one that does not serve you.

The way to get started is to write down your plan. It's good to map out your first four to six weeks so that you don't have to think about what to do but rather know what must be done because you have a guide to follow. This includes mapping out meals and exercise routines. So, when you wake up in the morning you know what you are going to eat for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks and at what time of the day you need to work out, what exercises to do, and for how long. When you take all of the thinking out of your day you will be able to follow your guide and begin changing your lifestyle. There is a saying that says, "luck is when preparation meets opportunity." This saying can certainly apply in behavioral changes.

Maintaining

After four to six weeks following a scheduled plan you should know by heart the foods you can eat and enjoy as well as how much exercise you need to engage in and for how long. You don't need guides anymore because you have new habits. But, what you don't have is reinforcement. It is easy to slip up so what you need to do is focus on making healthy choices and maintaining your new lifestyle. If you make a mistake and don't work out today then make it up tomorrow. If you slip up and eat three cookies today then forgive yourself and move on. Don't say that the entire day is ruined and then eat French fries, candy, and drink cola all day since it has become a "free" day. One mistake can be forgiven and won't affect your weight or your fitness levels. But, if you allow every mistake to turn the day into a "free" day you will soon find you are not getting anywhere fast. A bad habit always starts with one single false step.

Look Back

Once you find yourself doing well on the new lifestyle you will probably cruise along fairly well. But, it is always nice to look back and reinforce your good eating and exercise habits. When you do this you are basically charging your batteries and helping you keep yourself committed to your new lifestyle.