If you’re asking “Where do I even start”?
When making any change, big or small, knowing where to begin is definitely the hardest part. I remember the second doctor’s appointment, after my first bloodwork came back, where I was sat down and walked through the overwhelming list of diet changes, medications, and lifestyle changes I had to start making- Talk about information overload. I had just been handed a whole new lifestyle with no map or place to start and I had no idea what to do.
Nowadays, I have become pretty good at making changes but there are still times when what. my body needs (or decides to throw at me) is just too much on top of everything else in life and it overwhelms me completely- and I’ve learned its OKAY. The thing that saves me now is knowing how to step back and break big changes into smaller, easier to manage pieces using the tips below.
Tip 1: The first thing I always do is see how much of my previous habits DON’T have to change. I always get less stressed when I see the list of things that can stay the same instead of focusing all my attention on the things that have to change. I feel like having that positive mindset makes all the difference when it comes to making lasting changes because if you aren’t happy with your new lifestyle, chances are you won’t stick with it.
Tip 2: This one is difficult because it’s really easy to want to change everything at once- but this doesn’t usually end well. Like pulling everything out of your closet to organize it only to be left with a big overwhelming mess before you even get started- making you want to quit right then and there. I see people make this mistake over and over. they clear out their panties, go replace it all with every new thing they can find, quickly decide it is too hard to stick with, quit, and then are left with all this new stuff collecting dust. Instead, pick a piece of the change. For example, when I decided to cut all grains out of my life (with doctor supervision!) I did not take out everything I owned with a grain in it and run to Whole Foods to get expensive replacements. Instead, I picked one grain to remove and once I adjusted, moved on to the next one until all the grains were gone- SO much more manageable!
Tip 3: Make mistakes, make them again and again and move on! We are not perfect people and missteps will happen, and will happen more than once. Again, it is OKAY. Lifestyle changes are hard, finding a new way of doing things you’ve only done one way your whole life is not easy. Personally, a lot of changes I had to make went against the norm for my family, and how American life works in general- it was a struggle. And I have messed up, eaten things I knew would make me sick, not taken my medications when I knew they would make me feel better, not working out when I knew I needed to. The important thing with mistakes is learning from them and moving past it. Don’t let one mistake derail your day or week, instead (in the words of Elsa), Let It Go!
Tip 4: When I knowingly do something I know if going to hurt my health, I always try to find out why I did it in the first place. Example time: Why did i not work out today? Because I don’t really like the workouts I’m doing. Once I found a type of exercise I liked, I’ve been able to do it almost every day because it’s not a chore. Why did I eat something I knew my stomach would hate? Because I cannot live my life without pizza. I have tried and failed miserably. Instead, I actively looked for a recipe that tasted good and was made with good-for-my-belly ingredients and started making that instead. Why did I not take medications I knew I needed? Because that regimen was not sustainable for me, so I talked with my doctor and we found something that worked better.
The point is, nothing is sustainable long term if you’re not happy- and nothing should be. Health is essential to a happy life, but health without happiness is not living your best life. Find ways to support both you health AND your happiness by being flexible and honest with yourself about what you need. Don’t be afraid to try something new and experiment until you find the things that click.
Change will never be easy- but I hope that by getting into a positive state of mind, and using the tips I’ve learned over the years, you feel confident enough to tackle that goal you’ve been reaching for!