Wonder why sometimes it's hard to change?

And sometimes, it's not?  Here are a couple of examples.

1)  Sarah wants to lose 15 pounds because she is feeling tired and sluggish.  She started off great and even lost 5 pounds, but attending a party threw her off track.  Then she started to slip back into her old eating habits and before you know it, she was right back where she started!

2)  Sam has smoked for years.  He has quit often but always started smoking again.  His wife became pregnant with their first child, and he decided it was time to quit for good.  He quit, and hasn't had the desire to have a cigarette since.

What's the difference?  Looking at the psychological stages of change, we can see that the continuum of change is not a linear process.  If we start to take action before being fully ready,  the change may not be a long-lasting one.  In Sam's example, he had quit before, and kept trying to quit even though he was unsuccessful.  Over time, and the progression along the continuum of change, he became ready to take action.  Thus, when he found out his wife had become pregnant, it was time to act, and act he did.

For Sarah, she might have just tried for the first time to lose weight.  Her success will come from going back to contemplation, then preparation and then taking action again.  Each attempt is one step closer to success.

Research has shown that all people who have successfully changed, have traveled upon the continuum (stages) of change.  We circle back, do some research, get support, prepare and try it again.  Never give up because the next attempt may be it!  The question to ask yourself is:  How ready am I to change on a scale from  to 10?  If the number is low, keep doing your contemplating, researching, talking to people about it.  Move through the stages until you can rate yourself a solid 8 to being ready to change, and set yourself up for success by encouraging friends and family to support you.

What are the stages of change? 

1. Precontemplation:  In denial, not interested in changing.  Would actually like to change all the people who are nagging at him to stop.  :-)
2. Contemplation:  Starting to think about it, what life would be like, the benefits of change, how might it be done.
3. Preparation:  Looking up classes, getting ready.  Investigating possible steps to take to change the offending behavior.  Recipe searches, tips for quitting smoking, asking how others have done it....all are processes in the preparation stage.
4. Action!:  This is when you do it!  Get rid of all the sugar in the house, throw away all the cigarettes, buy healthier choices at the market.  
5. Maintenance:  Continue to be in action, not feeling the call to relapse, but keeping up the support so you don't have the urge.
6. Termination:  You are so OVER the old habit, you will never do it again.  Know how reformed smokers are about smoking--you know they'll never pick up another one!

Read Changing for Good by James Prochaska, et al, for more about the stages of change.

If you would like to change something about your health, let me know!  Send an email to me, requesting a complementary coaching session to explore where you are and where you would like to be!  Here's to more health!!