When you think of where you want to be in terms of total weight loss, dress size, pant size or how you will look on your next tropical vacation, you may feel overwhelmed by obtaining that goal. Maybe your vision feels insurmountable or out of reach. Feeling overwhelmed often breeds inaction. Why even bother, you think. That’s where baby steps come into play. Here are 3 ways you can baby step your way to your optimal health.
1) Make your goal smaller. Say what? Yep, you heard me right. The key to overcoming the obstacle of feeling overwhelmed or defeated is to make your goal smaller. For example, write down a goal to lose three pounds. Don’t think about the looming 30 pounds you want to lose and how you are going to make that happen. Instead, think about the next three pounds and that’s it. Don’t let your mind go beyond the next three pounds. When you are three pounds down, take time to be happy about it and congratulate yourself on what you have accomplished, and then set your next small, immediate goal.
2) Add a new healthy habit each week. Just add one each week. Every Sunday, come up with a new, small habit you are going to adopt. Think about how much change you could create in your life if every week you ADD a new healthy habit. That’s about four new habits per month, 48 new healthy habits per year! You can pretty much guarantee those weekly habits will add up to an improved you! Some habits you could add include: drinking more water, introducing strength training, or starting a food journal. Try freezing a smoothie and then take it to the office for lunch. Or begin eating yogurt and fruit as your dessert, pack your lunch, try a new workout, or up your intensity of your exercise. There are numerous ideas you can try each week. Just remember to keep adding habits—because it’s your compounded efforts week to week that will bring about real change.
3) Take away a bad habit each week. What habits can you get rid of? Your health also can be vastly improved by things you stop doing. Can you give up soda? Eat a little less sugar each week? Stop buying foods that tempt you while you are at the store? Stop eating directly out of a bag or box? Eliminate a few processed food items from your grocery list? Stop avoiding workouts. Stop having second helpings? Each week, select one thing to stop doing to improve your health!
These three steps can trick you into a healthier lifestyle by slowly introducing change into your life. Before you know it, the majority of your habits will be healthy and you will love the changes you see and feel! Yeah you! Weight loss success!