Physical goals are often centered on weight loss and counting pounds to shed—that’s certainly been my experience throughout my health journey. Over the past decade, I’ve been caught in a frustrating cycle: watching the numbers on the scale drop temporarily, only to climb back up and often exceed my starting weight. Through these repeated attempts and setbacks, I’ve realized my approach to weight management was fundamentally flawed. Rather than embracing sustainable, long-term lifestyle changes to improve my physical well-being, I fixated on quick fixes and temporary solutions for weight loss. I was constantly focusing on the next diet trend or workout fad that promised rapid results and I found myself jumping from one solution to another, never allowing myself to build the foundation for lasting change that my body desperately needed.
Nothing I did was sustainable, and I desperately needed a change. I reached a critical turning point where I needed a fundamental change—not just in my actions, but in my entire approach to health and wellness. I needed a complete shift in mindset that would help me both reach and maintain my desired weight long-term. After years of frustration, I finally accepted a truth that sounds cliché but carries deep meaning: I needed to make a genuine “lifestyle change,” moving beyond quick fixes to embrace a new way of thinking about my health journey.
What exactly is a lifestyle change, and how do I accomplish this? A lifestyle change means adding new habits that become part of our daily life. These aren’t just quick fixes—they must be integrated into our daily routines, weekly schedules, monthly plans, and yearly goals. Instead of seeing these as temporary changes, think of them as fundamental shifts in how we care for our physical well-being. To accomplish this lifestyle change we must take steady, purposeful steps toward our physical goals and maintain them until they become our natural way of living. This journey demands both commitment and patience and the true change unfolds gradually as new habits become second nature.
After a decade of yo-yo dieting, I’ve shifted my focus to developing lasting lifestyle changes that serve the true purpose of my physical goals: improving my health, fitness level, and overall well-being. Rather than fixating on losing a specific number of pounds, I set meaningful fitness goals—like being able to keep up with my energetic toddler. My goals became increasing my strength, enhancing cardiovascular health, developing better balance and flexibility, and maintaining a healthy weight. Shedding the pounds naturally emerged as one result of these lifestyle changes that transformed my physical goals.
Setting goals is the easy part—”I want to lose 5 pounds” or “I want to exercise 3 times per week”—it’s what we do best. However, completing these next 4 steps will help us create sustainable changes and shift to a true lifestyle change:
- Implementation of goals – Create an actionable plan that outlines specific steps to achieve your goals. This should include details like your workout schedule, dietary changes, and lifestyle modifications.
- Consistency – Focus on making small, sustainable changes over time rather than intense short-term efforts. Remember that setbacks are a natural part of the process—instead of becoming discouraged, view them as opportunities to refine your strategy and approach.
- Track your progress—monitor your journey regularly to identify areas needing improvement and adjust your plan accordingly.
- Celebrate the small victories—acknowledging these milestones along the way will help you keep pushing forward, even when progress seems slow.
Stay committed to your goals, especially when motivation decreases or obstacles arise. True persistence through difficulties sets lasting changes apart from temporary fixes. By making small, manageable changes to your daily routine, you’ll gradually build a healthier and more active lifestyle that feels natural. These small improvements may seem modest on their own, but they add up to create lasting transformation. The impact of these lifestyle changes goes far beyond quick results—they’ll boost your energy, improve your health, and enhance your well-being for years to come. Remember, the journey to better health is a marathon, not a sprint. Each small step brings you closer to sustainable, lifelong wellness.
LET’S GO!!
