In our last post, we talked about making small changes that can add up to big weight loss. We found a resource on a US government website that offers some suggestions about making changes that stick:

“Do you want to eat healthier or become more active? Most Americans have tried to eat healthier or be more physically active at some point in their lives. Why,then,do many of us eat high-fat and high-calorie foods and have such a hard time fitting in exercise? You may be wondering: is it even possible to change your habits?

The answer is yes! Change is always possible, and a person is never too out-of-shape, overweight, or old to make healthy changes.

This fact sheet offers strategies to help you improve your eating and physical activity habits. Whether you feel like change is a world away or just around the corner, the information here can help you get started.

One Step at a Time

Old habits die hard. If you want to change your habits, you may find I helpful to make realistic and gradual changes one step at a time and at your own pace. It is important to think about what motivates you, what trips you up, and what you enjoy when it comes to eating and activity habits. There is no such thing as a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach.”

Get the full report here: Changing Your Habits

The report talks about the different stages of change, as well as common obstacles to change in each of the stages. The report also offers some strategies to overcome the obstacles. It is a free report from the National Institutes of Health, and available for download, you don’t even need to leave an email address. The report also includes an extensive  list of resources available free from the National Institutes of Health.

You can use the strategies to help you change any habits, they are not limited to natural  weight loss strategies. (Although the report talks about weight loss specifically, the stages of change, and barriers to change apply to a wide range of changes.)

Incoming search terms for the article:

• changing habits to lose weight
• changing habits weight loss and exercise
• losing weight by changing habits
• natural weight loss strategies
• strategies to natural weight loss