One of the main keys to reaching and maintaining your ideal weight is forming good habits. I am sure that you have seen someone go a diet and lose weight only to put that weight back on within a few months after losing it.

There are many reasons for this; the most common being they did not change their mindset by forming good new habits. If you decide to “go on a diet” you immediately begin training your subconscious mind that you are only going to be successful during the timeframe of the diet. Soon you start believing that while you give up chocolate, pizza and cream cakes, you will lose weight.

Then of course when the diet is over you start to gain weight because you have trained your mind to believe that is what will happen.

In order to stop this process we need to form good habits. When we do this we train our minds in a different way, we start to see what we are doing as a lifestyle change not a temporary fix. You want to start doing things that you are going to do for the rest of your life.

This is not something that is terribly difficult to do; it is just a matter of making the decision to develop a healthy lifestyle. You can start by getting into a route. Doing the same things daily helps you to develop a pattern and soon that pattern becomes ingrained and a natural part of whom you are.

Scientists say that it takes 21 days to form a new habit. So if you are want to make a positive change to your life, don’t go on a diet. Instead read through the list below and make the decision to develop some new healthy daily habits.

1. Use Affirmations
I know that when the word affirmation is used many people tend to run screaming in the opposite direction. This is because they are often mis-understood and used incorrectly. Therefore they are dismissed as new age nonsense. Affirmations simply help you to remember why you want to achieve your goal and help you to feel in advance, what it will feel like when you achieve that goal.

Simply write a short list of why you want to live a healthier lifestyle and what are some of the things you are going to do when you have lost some weight. Then be sure to spend at least five minutes each morning and evening looking at that list. This will serve a constant reminder.

2. Eat High Energy Foods
I can’t stress the value of this one enough. In the western society we often look for the quickest easiest way to resolve our problems; however when it comes to healthy eating, “quick fixes” are only temporary. For instance we get up in the morning and we feel lethargic so what do we do first? We head to the coffee shop. Then in the afternoon we feel a slump coming on so what do we do? We go and buy something sugary.

Unfortunately these foods do give us a high, but it does not last more than an hour or so and worse than that, the crash that occurs when the sugar or caffeine has worn off is often worse than the slump that we felt originally.

If you are on it, get yourself off this unhealthy merry-go-round. Instead treat your body to high energy foods. These include fresh fruit, fresh vegetables and non processed food. If you feel tired in the morning, try drinking Earl Grey tea or Green Tea, these contain natural caffeine which will lift you gently and keep you feeling alert, and best of all there is no crash later. Cut the white sugar from your diet and start using cane sugar, raw honey or Agave Nectar instead. I personally love Agave, it has a wonderfully rich sweetness to it and it is all natural.

3. Drink Plenty of Water
I’m sure I do not have to explain the health benefits of drinking plenty of water; there has been enough talk about this for many many years. However there are one or two benefits that you may not be familiar with that can help you to shed some of those unwanted pounds.

Drink a glass of water (not ice cold) about 10 minutes before you eat. There are two reasons for this; the first and most obvious one is that it fills you a little so therefore you will not eat as much at mealtimes. But more importantly it will help you to discover if you are truly hungry and not just thirsty.

It may surprise you to know that we often mistake thirst for hunger. I am sure that you are probably shaking your head right now and wondering how anyone could possibly make that mistake. I used to say the same thing until I started drinking a glass of water 10 minutes before eating. I soon realized to my horror that often I just needed a drink and not food.

In my next post I will talk a little more about how you can incorporate more water into your daily diet.

4. Visualize Your Success
Visualization is a great way to buy into your healthy eating lifestyle. By simply spending 10 minutes a day visualizing how you want to look and feel, you will begin to powerfully train your subconscious mind that this is what you really want.

If you do this for 21 consecutive days your mind will find ways to support you in achieving your goal. Top athletes and even the astronauts at NASA use visualization simply because it works.

Find yourself a quite space where you can be alone of at least 5 minutes. Breathe deeply in through your nose and slowly out through your mouth. Relax! When you are calm and your breathing is deep and even, picture in your mind what sort of life you will have when you are fit and healthy.

Picture it as clearly as you can, see the sights, sounds, colors and even smells if you can. Really get into it and enjoy it. Continue for as long as you want and as long as you can. When you are finished simply go about your day and do your best to maintain those high vibrating good thoughts during your day.

5. Get Some Fresh Air
Take yourself outside and get some fresh air, this is particularly important for people who work in offices where there is air conditioning. This is not clean air, and can contribute to that tired feeling that comes over many people mid afternoon.

When you have a break, get away from your desk and go outside, even if it’s just for a five minute walk around the building. This will take your mind off work for a few minutes, clear your head and wake you up. So that when you do go back to work you will feel invigorated and alert. I have some of my best ideas when I am sitting in my garden after I have had lunch.

6. Spend Time with Positive People
This is one of the most important things you can do for yourself. Negative people are literally toxic to your mind and body, and it is vital that you minimize your time with them. You know the kinds of people I mean; those who are always complaining about their lives but never do anything to improve it. Those who are always suffering from some sort of illness, and constantly want you to empathize with them.

And my personal favorite, those who try to sabotage you the moment they realize you are changing your eating habits. They are the most dangerous of all because they are Mad As Hell at you for doing something that they feel they cannot do. Have you noticed the moment they see you eating a salad or refusing a doughnut the first thing that fly’s out of their mouths is “what’s wrong with you?” or “everyone else is having one, why aren’t you?”

These people are more dangerous than walking amongst landmines, because they slowly and slyly try to undermine your good intentions with very subtle, suggestive words. Unfortunately what they are really doing is showing their own feelings of lack of self worth, but rather than deal with that they instead try to drag you back down to their level because it is easier to drag you down than lift themselves up. STAY AWAY FROM THEM!! Instead seek out positive people, events, books, courses and workshops that will uplift you. Fill your mind with positive influences that help you to stay on track


If you follow the suggestions about for at least 3 weeks I guarantee that you will be well on your way to a slimmer, fitter, healthier you. If there is anything I can do to help you please feel free to comment here or email me. And do remember to get some form of exercise 3 times a week for at least 30 minutes.


Love Always
Carol xx