Making lifestyle changes

[Calypso]

A life coach told me once that if we do something 21 times, or do the same thing over a period of 21 days, it becomes a habit. When I was asking for advice on making lifestyle changes, she suggested that I pick one small change and focus on nothing but that change for a month.

For instance, say I want to walk on my treadmill for ten minutes a day. I focus on that and that alone for an entire month. Once that becomes a habit, I can choose something else to work on, perhaps incorporating an extra vegetable serving into my diet or walking on the treadmill for twenty minutes instead of ten.

For me the hardest thing is getting off my tail and getting through that first day of change. Once I've done it, my resistance is lowered and I can usually keep it up. It's just taking that darned first step...

[anarch]

I hear that one. I'm terrible when it comes to exercising. First of all, the work that I do has me sitting at a desk for long periods of time and, by the time I'm done, I'm really not in the mood to go exercise much. Of course, even when I do have time, I can find excuses why I don't...

[Calypso]

I hear that one. I'm terrible when it comes to exercising. First of all, the work that I do has me sitting at a desk for long periods of time and, by the time I'm done, I'm really not in the mood to go exercise much. Of course, even when I do have time, I can find excuses why I don't...

LOL, I hear that! I can always find an excuse not to exercise. That's how most of my writing gets done. Hmmm....write five articles or walk on the treadmill for half an hour...where's my writing chair?

[sandmike123]

LOL, I hear that! I can always find an excuse not to exercise. That's how most of my writing gets done. Hmmm....write five articles or walk on the treadmill for half an hour...where's my writing chair?

LOL ain't that the truth......I think I would be ok if I could figure out how to hook my keyboard up to the treadmill.

[Calypso]

I'd probably *still* find some excuse not to walk. I meet even take up writing by longhand again!

[sandmike123]

LOL.......yeah I can probably say I would do the same thing.

[Terri_R]

It's true. It takes about 2 weeks to change a habit and the first steps are always the most difficult. The thing that motivates me to make changes is how much better I feel when I am getting enough rest, exercising and eating right. Let me slip a few days and I remember why I was making such an effort to begin with.

[littlecat123]

I agree that taking the 1st step is the hardest. I really feel like if I could just get my butt back into the gym it would be no problem going back to keep up a routine. It's just making time to get there the first time!

[Terri_R]

I agree that taking the 1st step is the hardest. I really feel like if I could just get my butt back into the gym it would be no problem going back to keep up a routine. It's just making time to get there the first time!

Once I retired from my high stress, long hour days, I found myself slipping away from my workout routine. After about 6 months the fitness center I use had an opening for a part-time fitness coach. Now I have no reason for not working out at least 4 times a week (the days that I work). I am also very active on our farm which compels me to do a lot of walking to take care of the various animals we raise. The motivation there is that it is another form of income for us. The better the animals look and raise, the better the pay, and all at the convenience of my home.

[myssi]

A life coach told me once that if we do something 21 times, or do the same thing over a period of 21 days, it becomes a habit. When I was asking for advice on making lifestyle changes, she suggested that I pick one small change and focus on nothing but that change for a month.

For instance, say I want to walk on my treadmill for ten minutes a day. I focus on that and that alone for an entire month. Once that becomes a habit, I can choose something else to work on, perhaps incorporating an extra vegetable serving into my diet or walking on the treadmill for twenty minutes instead of ten.

For me the hardest thing is getting off my tail and getting through that first day of change. Once I've done it, my resistance is lowered and I can usually keep it up. It's just taking that darned first step...

This is actually an excellent idea.. I am going to try this!

[aramathea]

I have heard the same thing about incorporating habits. With me also, it's that first step that is the hardest. If I could get up the motivation to make some changes, I would be a lot better. Have any ideas on motivation?