thought into action
Filed Under Tips & Tricks | March 4, 2009
In January local trainer Hayley McGowan of BabyBumps Fitness got the year off on the right foot with ideas for setting S.M.A.R.T. goals. But since less than 30% of New Years resolutions are successful, we thought it would be good to check back in with Hayley for a little boost just in case you find yourself sitting on the couch at the end of each day with a snack rather than lacing up your running shoes.
Changing unhealthy habits is always a struggle, it takes at minimum of six months to change a habit and there are many phases of change along the way. Understanding the five phases of change will help you understand why it is difficult to do what you say you will do and helps to eliminate the guilt when new habits revert back to old ones.
It starts with Pre-contemplation, the phase when you are struggling to even think about finding time to exercise in your busy, kid-filled schedule. However, if you set your goals back in January then you are probably seesawing between contemplation – knowing you need to change a habit but waiting for something like your tot to start preschool – and preparation, where you’ve bought your exercise DVD and cleared the cupboards of sugary junk. The action phase applies to those of you’ve already worked up a sweat to your favourite DVD, met your best friend for a power walk or started planning healthy meals.
The action phase is the second to last phase before complete change. And it can last months, or even years, as sick kids and busy schedules have you reverting you back to your old habits. You will bounce between contemplation and action, or action and maintenance, the final phase, until you have consistently met your goals for at least six months.
Understanding that you will relapse when making changes and reaching goals – and likely more than once – makes it easier not to berate yourself over that carton of ice cream you ate, or that rainy afternoon that you opted to cuddle up on the couch with your kids rather than going for a power walk. When you do slip up, evaluate why it happened and make a plan to prevent it from happening again.
Failing to plan means planning to fail, so knowing where you sit in the five phases of change will help you reach maintenance that much faster.
Need help with your goal setting or interested in BabyBumps’ pre and postnatal classes in West Van? Email Hayley McGowan, BHK, CPT, Pre and Postnatal Fitness Specialist, at babybumpsfitness@gmail.com.
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