In sharing my 5-step process for having the health and body you want, I suspect step 4 might be your favorite. Most likely you’ve spent a lot of time on it. But if it hasn’t been working, then it’s time to refine. To personalize.
I’m talking about creating a weight loss plan. This is where people are most comfortable, figuring out the what and the how. But I know lasting habits come from doing the deep work, which is why we started with steps 1, 2 and 3. Once you build that foundation (not perfect, but in process), creating a weight loss plan, and following through, is much easier.
To start, you’ll want to avoid these 3 common mistakes people make with their plans:
- Failing to consider what’s appropriate at this point in your life
- Constantly changing the plan, never giving a habit enough time to take hold and start producing results for you
- Regularly looking outside yourself for all the answers, not trusting what you already know
The key to avoiding these mistakes is to look inward. Put down the app. The carb counter. The point tracker. The technology fitness partner. You can come back to them, but set them aside for now.
Break it down into steps
Think about the healthy lifestyle you want to live. Go back to what you clarified in step 2. With that in mind, make a list of all the things you would need to start doing and stop doing. Add to it what you need to do more of and less of. And then recognize what you need to continue doing. In asking yourself these questions, you’ll find you know more than you give yourself credit for. (By the way, I have a cool tool to help you brainstorm – email me and I’ll shoot it off to you.)
Once you have this, pretend you’re not in a hurry. Assume it will take you a year or two to pull it all together and be living that lifestyle. What habits would you start with? Think about your current lifestyle and what makes sense for you. Consider what you learned from past experience and let it help you move forward. Go month by month, gradually layering in changes as you establish habit patterns. Think small steps, big results. And yes, bring back in the apps and trackers, but only if they serve you and what you want to achieve.
Then, decide what makes sense for you to implement right now. Get good at it. Move on to the next. If you build a solid, personalized plan, you will get results. Yes, it may need changing along the way. But because you’re being thoughtful, not jumping from one thing to another, always in a hurry to get results.
Need support building a customized plan? Schedule time to talk with me.