1. Stay Inspired

When I am working with coaching clients, I call it the crystal ball moment:

Moment 1

• If I stop my eating plan, how will I look in 6 months?
• If I stop my eating plan, how will I feel in 6 months?
• If I stop exercising, what will my health be like, especially sleeping and mood?

Moment 2

• If I continue to eat well, how will I look in 6 months?
• If I continue my eating plan, how will I feel in 6 months?
• If I continue to exercise, how will my health and energy levels continue to improve?

2. Live in the present

Pay attention to how you feel at the end of the day when you did your best. Remember doing your best is not being perfect! Your best means progress toward the goal you have your heart (literally) set on.

3. Have a Plan

If you are like me, you have tried to lose the weight in the past. It usually is the same obstacles that sabotage us time and time again. Create a plan ahead of time. Here are some examples that worked for me:

Stressful days that cause me to crave a reward for just surviving them…

Solution: Pre-plan the reward to be something unrelated to food. For me a good replacement was allowing myself some extra lounging around time. If you know me, it was in front of the TV! I know that it seems lazy, but I really enjoy it and it is a treat.

Social Gatherings planned around food and drink (going to the cottage anyone?)

Solution: Make sure that you don’t stop moving, especially on the days you have an event with scrumptious food and drink. Also, don’t show up at the party hungry. Continue your regular eating plan as much as possible, and still enjoy some of the yummy delights with your friends. Everything in moderation. BONUS: You will feel great the next day!

4. Stay Motivated

Finding ways to stay motivated can mean different things to each of us. All of us have a “Why”. For me it was my family. I wanted to remain in their lives well into old age. My pattern of behaviour was not supporting this goal, so I need to change it.

For some women, especially who have daughters, it is the motivation of setting a good example for their children. Teaching them how to care for themselves and the importance of it.

5. Surround Yourself with Health

This means adjusting your environment to reflect your goal. Stocking the fridge with healthy food, ensuring exercise equipment is clear of laundry, eating healthful meals from beautiful dishes.

This also means surrounding yourself with people who inspire you to stay on track. Friends and family who live a lifestyle you aspire to. Hiring a nutrition/health coach to be accountable to and help you when the going gets tough.

6. Reward – this is the best fun!!!

One of the cleverest ways I have heard to reward yourself. A member of SparkPeople.com shared that she recruited gift givers. She gave several of her friends $20 each to buy her a surprise gift, wrap it and everything. Then for each 10 pounds she lost (you could determine the interval yourself), she would open one of the gifts purchased by her friends for a really fun and surprising reward along her journey.

Tara Green
Owner of Green T Wellness