Over the past few weeks I've been diving deep into my 5 part framework that makes up the essence of my Bodytypology program, and why so many of my clients have such long term success.
The 5 parts are:
- Nourishment
- Emotional Release
- Lifestyle
- Movement
- Sustainability
Today I want to go into # 3, Lifestyle. This encompasses, stress management and cleaning up your environment. A healthy space, surrounded by positive, like minded, supportive friends and letting go of negative, draining people. Replacing chemical toxins in your home, cleaning products, skin care products, etc. And forming healthy, long term habits.
I've been reading and now re-reading a fascinating book called Atomic Habits by James Clear. He writes about the importance of implementing small (atomic) habits setting up systems, rather than goal setting.
What he says makes sense. If you have goal such as a weight loss goal to get to a certain weight, what happens when you reach your goal weight? Often you let your new healthy habits slide and the weight starts coming back on.
Therefore, he says it is more important to focus on habits that you will instill and maintain long term.
I was very happy to read that I am already using so many of his suggestions with my clients, to ensure they create and maintain healthy habits long term.
Here are a few:
- Use implementation intentions (each week my clients choose and write down 2 of their own specific health goals.)
- Never miss twice, when you get off of a bad habit get right back on track immediately. (Enjoy your deviations, savor them, do not feel guilty and then get right back on track.)
- Prime your environment, prepare your environment to make future actions easier. (Plan and prepare healthy meals and snacks in advance)
- Reduce exposure, remove the cues of the bad habit from your environment.(ie Reduce the unhealthy snacks or drinks from the house as much as possible)
- Design your environment, make the cues of good habits obvious and visual. (ie Make it easy to drink more water by having a water bottle close by, using a fancy jug, adding in lemon etc.)
- Use a habit tracker (I've created a simple food journal with check boxes to check off protein, carbs, fruits, veggies, water, exercise etc)
- Get an accountability partner, That's me!
