Professional Documents
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Lifestyle Makeover Guide
Lifestyle Makeover Guide
Makeover Guide
Failing to Break Old Habits?
Avoid Defeat With These Effective Methods
By Melanie Thomassian
Professional Dietitian
The Lifestyle Makeover Guide
Table of Contents
Page
“Success consists of getting up just one more time than you fall.”
- GOLDSMITH
I’ve done this in the past when I’ve said, “I think I’ll exercise
today.” Then I start right into it, jogging, stretches, push-ups, the
whole works! I may keep this up for a week or so, but ultimately
cave in with my exercise routine going out the window.
Yet, when it comes to changing habits that we’ve held most of our
lives, we don’t take time to plan beforehand, and then we wonder
why it’s so difficult!
So, you want to change your lifestyle for the better. This ebook is a
good place to start! But, before you begin, it’s worth checking to
make sure you’ve got what it takes to be successful.
Enthusiastic 3
Half-hearted 2
Resistant 1
Excellent 3
Good 2
Poor 1
I’ve been trying to exercise and eat healthier, but it’s hard 3
I need to lose weight, and I’m thinking about how to do it 2
My friends and family keep telling me to lose weight, but I 1
don’t think it’s a big deal
Very well 3
Fairly well 2
I get easily discouraged 1
8. Think about the people closest to you. How will they react to
your decision to change old habits?
Enthusiastically 3
Sceptically 2
Negatively 1
Now add up your score and let’s find out how you did. If you score
15 or more, you’re ready for lifestyle change.
However, if you scored lower, it’s no cause for alarm. Many people
rate their abilities much lower than reality, particularly in the
early stages of change, when you feel unsure of your capabilities.
6. If others are making the decision about your weight loss, you
need to stop and ask yourself, “Does weight loss really
mean something to me personally?” There’s no point
making goals to change, if you’re not ready for it at this point.
This e-book is designed to help you put your personal goals
into action, but you must want it personally.
7. We all face stress in our lives; however it’s how you choose to
deal with it that will determine the effect stress will have on
your overall wellbeing. Later in this e-book we’ll be looking at
If you have a blog, perhaps you could hold a weekly check-in with
your readers. This is a great way to get tips and advice from others
who understand the difficulties you face, and to encourage one
another. People love to know that they’re not alone, that others,
just like you, are also working hard to achieve personal goals.
You may be thinking, “I’ve tried this before, and it didn’t work!”
But, have you considered that your thought process may have
been faulty in the past?
There’s no doubt about it, the mind is extremely powerful, but with
the correct attitude you can accomplish those lifestyle changes
you’ve dreamt about. In fact, you already have everything you
need to be successful this time.
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit.”
- ARISTOTLE
Imagine a little child trying to take its first steps. How many times
will the child fall down, get back up again, fall down, and get back
up? It’s countless I’m sure!
But, can you imagine what would happen if that child gave up
after a few attempts? Thinking “It’s no good, I just can’t do it, why
even try?” Well, that would be disastrous, wouldn’t it?
Yet as adults, we’re often so quick to give up when things get tough,
thinking we’ll simply never be successful. This is what I want
you to challenge!
Michael Jordan once said, “I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in
my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted
to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and
over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”
Did you get that? He said, “And that is why I succeed.” Michael
Jordan didn’t let his so-called “failures” hinder his current
progress, but rather, he allowed them to make him a
stronger player, and therefore he was successful.
“Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you’ll start having
positive results.”
- NELSON
You probably think of a purple giraffe with white spots, right? This
is because you must first imagine the giraffe in your mind, before
you can even begin to understanding the ‘don’t!’
Very often when people begin a new diet they tell themselves,
“Don’t eat cookies,” “Don’t even think about eating those potato
chips,” “Don’t think about food!” Does that sound familiar? How
successful are you in not doing those things? My guess would be,
not very successful!
In actual fact, by always saying what you don’t want, you send
confusing messages to your brain, and the result is that you keep
getting what you don’t want.
I’d like you to begin challenging negative thoughts when they arise,
with the understanding that they are of no benefit to you.
So, rather than saying, “I’ve really blown it today, I’m useless at
this!” instead try “Today was only one day in the year, tomorrow
is another day.”
Can you see how much more positive the last statement was?
#2 Notice Negativity
This may seem a little obvious, but when you become aware of
the negativity in your attitude, you become more conscious of your
internal thoughts, and therefore you can immediately
challenge this behaviour.
What are your goals? Maybe it’s to be fitter and healthier than
you’ve ever been? What would that be like for you? Perhaps it’s to
have more energy; to fit into your old clothes again; or to be able to
play with your kids without getting out of breath?
For me, it’s about avoiding bad health later in life, preventing
weight gain, and just possessing the vitality to enjoy life. This is
what motivates me to continue following a healthy lifestyle.
Action Point
What motivates you towards your goals?
I have been playing the piano since I was a child. However, when
someone would ask me to play for them I’d tense up, alarm bells
going off inside my head, and I’d hear that little voice inside saying,
“You can’t do it, you’ll make mistakes, and it will sound terrible!”
Yes, I was extremely nervous, and I did make a few mistakes. But,
do I regret taking the plunge? No way! Do you know I actually
enjoy playing now?
So, with each new challenge that faces me, I try to overcome it with
a commitment and determination to succeed.
Action Point
What limiting beliefs are holding you back from
achieving your goals?
Let’s say your limiting belief is, “I don’t know how to eat healthy!”
This is a learned skill, and therefore it’s possible to learn new
skills that will contain the solution to your current problem.
Do you see how easy it could be to learn new skills that help you
overcome whatever difficulties you face?
These are skills that will help you for the rest of your life. Isn’t it
worth investing a few months of your time right now to
overcome your limitations?
So, rather than dwelling on making changes that will last a lifetime,
how about making a temporary change — say for 30 days?
After this time if it doesn’t work you can easily go back to your old
habits!
It’s a little bit like being offered a 30-day money back guarantee!
The commitment is temporary; merely one month out of your
life, and imagine the health benefits you’ll enjoy in that time.
Essentially you could use this method in any area of your life -
learning a new skill, keeping a tidy desk, practising the habit of
positivity, being a better friend, or becoming an early riser.
Action Point
Choose one bad habit that you’d like to change, and
focus on it for 30 days.
If you’re serious about changing old habits, it’s important that you
allow adequate time for new habits to become firmly ingrained.
This is why trying a new habit for at least 30 days is a good idea,
giving you a greater chance of being successful long-term.
It’s not impossible to change old habits though; in fact it’s very
possible indeed. By committing to it for just 30 days you’ll begin to
find out just what you can achieve when you put your mind to it.
“Your goals are the road maps that guide you and show you what is possible
for your life.”
- BROWN
How do you feel about change right now? Past experience can lead
you to believe that it’s a difficult, almost impossible task. But,
sometimes we focus too much on these difficulties, forgetting
to notice when things are actually going well.
So, grab a pen and paper and let’s make a plan of action for
the weeks ahead.
#3 Set goals that are relevant to you. This may seem obvious,
but it’s a very important point. When you set goals that are
significant to what you want, they instantly become more
achievable.
relapse coming on. Or, perhaps you’re trying to lose weight and
have a picture of yourself when you were heavier, you could use
this as a reminder of what you’re moving away from.
“Habit is habit, and not to be flung out of the window by any man, but
coaxed downstairs a step at a time.”
- TWAIN
Unfortunately, this doesn’t last forever, but studies have shown the
longer you follow a healthy plan with daily self-monitoring,
the easier it gets to stick with long-term.
As your body and mind begin to accept the new healthy lifestyle,
over time you should find yourself developing strategies that
keep you on track, and you will naturally begin to ‘self-correct’
behaviour that isn’t conducive with your new way of life.
So, when things get tough, stick with it, and take encouragement
from the fact that time will make things easier!
For regular healthy eating and lifestyle tips, you can stay in touch
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via email or RSS feeds. Please do contact me with any queries,
comments, or suggestions.
Melanie Thomassian
The Author
Her goal is to help others achieve a healthy lifestyle, without the need for
fad diets, or extreme exercise regimens.
Disclaimer
While every attempt has been made to achieve accuracy in the content
provided, the author assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions, and
makes no warranties with respect to the applicability, fitness, or completeness
of the contents of this ebook. The author shall not be held liable for any loss or
other damages, including but not limited to incidental, consequential, or other
damages. The author makes no claims for any medical benefits of this book.