READINESS TO CHANGE
If you are looking to make some major changes in your life then it is useful to start by asking yourself a few pertinent questions.  Giving consideration to the real reasons behind your desire to change will provide a better chance of success. You don't have to have all the answers straightaway as we can work together on these which will provide a mutual understanding of what, why, by when and how.
WHY DO I WANT CHANGE?
Ask yourself why you are thinking about making some lifestyle changes. What is the driving force behind any decisions you make and the actions you need to take? What is it that will keep you going? You need to find the real 'why' to provide the 'buy in' from you. This could be related to weight, physical fitness, mental health or a general concern of not being able to do certain things now or in the future.
​
Top tip: Use the '5 whys' technique
Go beyond simple statements such as 'I want to lose weight' or 'I want to look better'. Question yourself and respond with another 'why'. Dig deep and be honest with yourself until you discover the emotion behind the final answer. This most often requires the question 'why' 5 times but do not stop at 5 if you think you need to dig deeper. How is you want to feel? The stronger the emotion the more likely the success.
AM I READY?
Once you've found your 'why' think about how ready you are to take action - this is really about commitment. Sometimes our circumstances are not in favour of making any major changes, but then again life is never perfect and some changes might just help with any stresses you are feeling. Everyone is different and will want to approach their goal(s) in their own way and at their own pace.
Top tip: Write down any concerns you may have, previous negative experiences, any barriers you feel are in your way. Some will be more difficult than others to overcome but rarely insurmountable. Perhaps discuss these with friends or family. This will help you with decisions around what you want to do, what you feel you can do and what you are prepared to do. Think about strategies you can use to overcome your issues and identify some quick wins which will help to get you started.
​
Your readiness to make any change will dictate your pace and the types of change you are prepared to make.
WHAT'S NEXT?
You've got your why, you are confident that you are ready to get started. But what next? Let's consider weight loss. What do you already know about how to lose weight? Perhaps you've already looked into various options but still not sure how to get started. Its easy to become confused/overwhelmed by the enormous and often contradictory information that's available. There are so many diets out there - low carb, high protein, low fat, intermittent fasting etc. Sometimes you just need the simple approach and some facts. No matter how they are marketed all diets rely on one simple factor, the calorie deficit - energy in is less than energy out. Click here for more about weight management.
​
Top tip: In the words of Nike, 'Just Do It'!
Start with just one positive but simple thing that you are comfortable with and know you can sustain and build on that. Remember you are looking at the long term not just a short term quick fix. For example an extra 10 minute walk in the day; drinking an extra glass of water per day (few of us drink enough); swap one not so healthy food item for a more healthy one .
Top Tip: Create both long term and short term goals
You may hate the idea of goal setting for fear of not reaching them! But without a goal there can be no plan. Goals can be flexible and will often need to be tweaked or completely changed due to unforeseen circumstances. There is no shame in this, how often do we change our plans on a daily basis - it's life.
​