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Changing your eating habits one step at a time! written by Kate Pollard
If the quick-fix diet pills and ‘fad diets’ actually worked, we wouldn’t still be worried about our dress size.
For years, the weight loss industry has been marketing products that make you doubt your ability to get healthy on your own. Quick fixes don’t work and they certainly won’t deliver the long term changes you think you’re paying for!
After helping hundreds of people achieve their health goals, I can tell you what works. First, stop ‘dieting’. It doesn’t work! While initial weight loss often occurs, fad diets have been proven to make you regain the weight in the long term. The best change comes about one step at a time.
Start with small changes, and don’t beat yourself up when you slip up. I hear people become disheartened so quickly, and just because they had one piece of chocolate. They think, ‘Well, I’ve already blown it. I may as well eat the whole block!’
It’s not All or Nothing
As an Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD) working in Private Practice in Brisbane, I see this ‘all or nothing’ or ‘black and white’ thinking all too often. Instead of thinking this way, aim for a balanced approach. Focus on one change each week to help improve your health. For example, tell yourself:
I’ll take my lunch to work at least four days this week instead of going to the take-away.
I’ll eat at least one piece of fruit every day.
I’ll have afternoon tea at work so I reduce the temptation of raiding the pantry when I get home starving!
All these changes make a big difference to your health and improve your confidence. When my clients focus on one change at a time, they find this has a flow-on effect of feeling so good that they end up making more and more healthy changes as these become second nature in our daily lives.
Take that First Step!
What will you focus on this week? Maybe the first one is to stop the unrealistic, restrictive rules and stop falling for the ‘quick fix’ promises. Whatever your goal is, make it realistic and achievable. That way YOU and YOUR lifestyle can make a change that lasts a lifetime.
Author of this article
KATE POLLARD, DIETITIAN APD, AN, BND (Nut & Diet) (Hons), is an Accredited Practising Dietitian and Nutritionist at the Centre For Integrative Health in Brisbane. She coaches clients towards improving their long-term health and is passionate about assisting chronic dieters to implement sustainable changes, decrease weight fluctuations, and improve physical/mental health. Contact Kate today on 07 3161 0845 or Email kate@cfih.com.au
This article was taken from Issue 1 of our magazine. For more articles like this, please subscribe to the Great Health Guide magazine – (subscription FREE for limited time only)
or 
