Jump off the weight loss/gain merry-go-round and make a few changes that will have lasting effects on your body. Simple, every day changes can have a lasting effect on your goals. How many of these can you do?

1. Start again
   No judgements, no history and no worries about where you are today. It’s just a starting point and doesn’t reflect on you as a person. Today is the last day you will ever be this weight or look this way as we start our journey back to where we want to go.
2. Who’s your crew?
   Surround yourself by those who are willing to go with you, support you and help you through the dark moments. There are going to times when you fall off the wagon but a support crew will help you back up and get you going again without reprimand. Change is hard but it is easier with people helping you.
3. Plan to succeed
   Know what you are doing, what you eating and what you need in advance. A bit of extra work at the beginning of the week means you stay the course. Exercise gets booked in your diary and recipes are planned. Reprogram yourself to take care of yourself and in a couple of weeks, you’ll be feeling and looking better.
4. Know your weaknesses
   There are going to be obstacles – it’s inevitable. But you know what they are – so plan for them. What are you going to do when work gets stressful busy? How are you going to keep going when your husband brings home a block of chocolate for you to share? What are you going to eat at the mid morning at the staff meeting?
5. Write up your goals
   What do you want to change? Where can you see yourself in 12 weeks? How is it going to change your life? What motivates you? Keep this somewhere you can refer to it everyday – it’s your call to action and your reason for doing all the hard work, making the sacrifices and have a good long look at yourself.
6. Dealing with Stress
   One of the biggest reasons people fall off the wagon is stress. They eliminate the one thing that helps them deal with stress positively. But get perspective – it’s your health at risk here. It’s your goals slipping through your fingers. Find alternatives like meditation, deep breathing or even a boxing class. Use stress as a reason to STAY on track. Remember what it feels like to get through a difficult situation by dealing with it positively? It’s going to boost your confidence and help make you unstoppable.
7. Avoid food traps
   Not sure what they are? How do you make the decision? Here’s a list of things to avoid because they hold you back: Fast foods – trans fats, saturated fats, lack of fibre, pre-packaged, the list goes on….
   Avoid white – missing nutrients as they have been processed out. What’s the point?
   Foods with bar codes: if it comes in a bag, box or container, give it a miss.
   Drink water. Drink milk. Limit any other drink even juice. Eat the fruit.
8. Move Staying active, increasing incidental exercise, getting out to try new things. Your body was designed to move so keep it happy by keeping it moving. Every little thing you do, makes a positive difference.
9. Enjoy the journey Make sure you reward yourself, take time to smell the roses. You could rail against the changes or you could enjoy the new experiences – being able to jog or feeling like you have more energy. Focus on the positives and reward yourself regularly. You are taking care of your most important asset – YOU!
10. Listen to yourself. You can do it. Other people will sometimes feel threatened by any changes to your life so see that stuff for what it is. It’s not your baggage. You have your own reasons for succeeding, you have a plan and you can do it. Successful people have some things in common. Take the ideas that resonate with you and action them. Use others’ experiences to improve your own. And go for it!

For further information on Babes on the Run programs, please contactjustine@babesontherun.com.au