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The
fast track to healthier living
February 5, 04
Suzanne Havala Hobbs
It’s
the second month of the new year, and many of us may have
hit a roadblock or two in meeting our resolutions to lose
weight and eat more healthfully.
One challenge for many people is deciding on an approach to
making lifestyle changes. Should you chip away at them gradually
or go for an overnight transformation?
There are pros and cons to each approach, and there’s
no one right answer. We all have different personalities and
styles of doing things. What’s important is that you
find a method that is comfortable for you.
And that it works.
Today, I’ll talk about things you might consider if
your preference is to make big changes quickly, as opposed
to making them over months or years.
First, it isn’t likely to be a flawless transition.
But moving quickly has its advantages. Among them:
• You get to enjoy the benefits sooner. People who make
big changes quickly -- and stick with them -- are likely to
reap the rewards sooner, especially if they have health concerns.
For example, if you have weight to lose, losing it faster
may mean that you feel and look better sooner. You may see
such health benefits as lower blood pressure, blood sugar
and cholesterol levels sooner. (That may translate into a
need for fewer or lower doses of medications, so check in
with your health care provider if this pertains to you.)
• Immediate gratification. You may prefer the satisfaction
that comes with taking immediate action and reaching your
goals quickly. In fact, a more gradual approach may cause
you to lose interest and abandon your plans.
• You know you’ll get there in this lifetime.
Unlike people who take their sweet time to make changes, the
overnight approach clears one big hurdle before arriving at
the goal. No worries about getting stuck in a rut along the
way -- there’s no time for any detours!
Of course, there are also perils to the overnight approach.
Leaping into major lifestyle changes gives you no time to
develop necessary skills or put supports in place. It takes
time to absorb information about nutrition and meal planning
and to figure out how to deal with practical issues such as
eating out and entertaining.
Unless you already have these skills and know what you need
to do, you may find yourself living on iceberg lettuce salads
and gnawing on your knuckles.
So, if you do opt for the fast track, draw up with a plan
to smooth the transition and sustain the changes.
In general, the overnight approach works best for people who
are:
• Informed about what they need to do. That means having
a good sense of what a healthy diet looks like, what foods
to keep on hand, what to make for dinner and how to handle
social situations and meals away from home.
• Surrounded by support. If you live and work with others
who have similar goals, it’ll help you stay on track.
It also helps if you know someone who models good eating habits
and can help you troubleshoot challenges.
• Relatively free of distractions. It’s easier
to make big changes quickly if you don’t have a new
baby, a new job, or a 60-hour workweek.
Lapses are normal. If you fall back into your old eating pattern
for a day or two, just pick up where you left off as soon
as you can.
Next week: the gradual approach.
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