How To Really Make A Lifestyle Change

When most people think of the job of a personal trainer, they usually assume it is someone who will help you learn or show you how to exercise properly and teach you nutritional guidelines to follow.  While those are very true characteristics of a personal trainer, a good one should be doing much more.  I'm sure you have heard of the phrase, "make a lifestyle change for successful weight management."  We hear this all the time but how can it be accomplished?

Our goal as fitness professionals at SDPT is to try and accomplish this.  We don't simply want to write and exercise program and a few nutritional tips.  Our real purpose is to educate you on how you can live the healthiest lifestyle that you see fit.   While everyone is looking for the quick fix, this usually leads to short term and limited results.  When a true plan is developed and maintained we see the best results possible.

Here are some pointers on how to integrate a new habit into your lifestyle.  This ideas are from the book, "The Power of Less."

1. For the next 30 days select one and only one habit that you think would make the biggest impact in your life.  Focus all of your effort on this one habit.  This could be keeping a food log, drinking more water, starting an exercise program, stretching....anything that will impact your life more positively.  Your goal is to only attempt to achieve this one new habit for one month.  When you get too ambitious, things start to fall apart.  We see it all the time.  A client who never has worked out before wants to work with a trainer 3 times a week, take a yoga class, a spin class, start a super restrictive diet plan, and train for a marathon.  Individually these are all great goals but it will be too overwhelming and most likely none of them will be achieved.  
2. Write down your specific goal and your plan of action.  This is where a trainer can be extremely useful helping you design an effective plan that you can simply follow to see results.  But if you can't hire a professional at least do research and come up with a plan that you can put into place.  If things come up you can alter the plan if necessary but stick with it as best as you can.  
3. Post your goal publicly.  Those that try things on there own with no accountability are at a huge risk of failure.  Tell people what you are doing and why you are doing it.  If you don't want everyone to know then don't blast it out on facebook, but make sure a few people know what you are doing and ask for their help.  If they are true friends they will do anything to help you succeed.  If they get in your way, it might be time to spend as little time as possible with those people.  
4. Continually reassess and evaluate your progress.  After a few days look at your progress and see how you are doing.  If you have fallen off track, get right back on.  This is where your support group comes in.  Inform them of your progress and ask them to check on you regularly.  You might even find out that a friend or coworker has a similar goal and starts it with you.  

Once you have successful integrated that new habit you can decide if another habit should be started or you continue to work on the one.  It is amazing how much of a difference one simple change can make in the long term.  

Please feel free to contact us if you need any help with your plan.  

You Stay Healthy San Diego,

Mike Deibler MS, CSCS

San Diego Premier Training