Think Long Term

Posted on August 26, 2008

I’m not a big fan of how the word “diet” is used these days. For most people, it means something like a temporary change in eating habits so they can lose weight. There’s tons of these “diets” out there. There’s Atkins, South Beach, The Zone, etc. Then there’s always the debate of which “diet” is better. By following strict “diet” programs that are usually always low-calorie, no matter what “diet” people choose, they will see progress.

What happens when they reach their goal? Yup, they stop the “diet” and go back to the way they used to eat and the weight usually comes back. The problem I see is that these “diets” are temporary solutions to a bigger problem: an unhealthy lifestyle.

Instead of the temporary solution of a so-called “diet,” why not look for a long-term solution? Why not permanently change the way we eat and live? Don’t know what to eat? Check this out for a guide to healthy eating. Don’t know what type of exercise to do? Just do something. Walking, swimming, yoga, pilates, strength training, and many others are great to do. Mix it up. Do a combination of some or all of these.

Create good habits that you can stick with for a lifetime. We don’t have to change everything at once either. Small steps will lead to bigger successes. Pick a few things you can start doing today to live a healthier lifestyle. Write them down. Think about them. Visualize success.