Welcome to Day 29!
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Today we will discuss how to sustain lifestyle changes for the long term - versus just as long as it takes to feel a little better.
Sustaining: We should look at the changes we have discussed as lifelong. Our genetics won’t change and we need to continue to provide what our genes expect or we will regress. So often, we try things and then naturally let them go. This is normal - but we want to aim at sustaining long-term. Most often it is a seesaw pattern of growth - with improvements, sliding back a little, and then getting back on track. But the goal should be trying to sustain as much as possible. So we will discuss a few tips to try to help with that. When set-backs occur, acknowledge them. Try to figure out why and how you can avoid that next time. Forgive yourself and reinvest. We are only human:) First, remember many of our health issues/lifestyle issues have addiction as an underlying element. Remove temptations and have easy access to healthy good foods and things you need for good habits. Second, have support. Those with support have been shown to be much more successful at long term improvement. Third, revisit your mission statement. Know and remember your why. Post it visually to remind you. Four, make things easy. -Make rotating menus and grocery lists so you are not reinventing it each week. -Spend a day a week prepping food so it is ready on the busy days. -Use crock pot and instant pot for easy meals -Have exercise equipment ready and handy. Have a partner to keep you going. -Have your morning corner ready for the morning routine (SAVERS) -Plan ahead with travel and eating out Fifth, visualize your LT success. How you feel, what it looks like. Affirmations. Sixth, revisit the illness journey. Think about your progress and why you are doing the things you are doing. When we regress and symptoms come back - they may be harder to stop and get back into remission next time (true especially with AI disease). However, there are times we will regress is some or all areas. When that happens: Regroup - Re-evaluate - Reingage - Refocus and then reinvest. It is worth it! |
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