Habit Forming

You didn’t become overweight overnight. It took time to put on the extra pounds and it also took time for you to develop the habits that put them on. Some of these habits may, to some extent, define who you are. You may not want to lose them because they have become comfortable and familiar. It is especially hard to replace these overeating habits when eating is comforting and entertaining.

For instance, opening a bag of chips or ordering a pizza in the face of stress could be something you do without even thinking about it. Or you may just assume that you will overeat in social situations like get-together with family or friends or dinners with clients. But changing one habit doesn’t mean giving up all sources of comfort when you are upset. And giving up eating and drinking too many calories does not mean that you will no longer have a social life. Instead, it means learning how to eat and drink so you can lose weight and keep it off.

Changing habits takes time, sometimes more time than you expect. If practiced daily, a new habit takes 2 or more weeks to become a regular part of your life. It can take longer if the new habit is used less frequently. Sometimes establishing new habits requires that you make renew commitments to the change. Was found that it can take up to 6 to 8 weeks for a new habit to become second nature. However, when a new habit is clearly associated with a positive result like weight loss, it’s easily, and more quickly, adopted.

But, in the face of difficulty, most people will revert back to the comfort of their old habits. Those usually include not ensuring that proper food is available for meals and snacks, skipping exercise sessions, and eating whatever is in sight.

Establishing new habits is challenging, so it’s important to remember that committing to making a change means making a commitment to yourself. You must do whatever it takes to honor that pledge, at least as much as – or even more than – it takes to honor promises made to others. There is nothing wrong with putting yourself first.

So remind yourself of new habits you are establishing and keep repeating them. Soon you will have control over your actions no matter what else is going on.

If weight loss is important to you, it must be a priority in your mind, on your calendar, and in your actions. Everything that you decide to do to lose weight may require changing how you think about using your time. And it may require changing your lifestyle.