Now that you have had time to consider your definition of healthy, what is your motivation?

Motivation is that thing that’s going to get you through the times they are a little harder than others. Motivation is what will keep pushing you forward to get that thing you want so bad.

Do you have an upcoming event? Maybe a wedding or a reunion. Will there be an ex there? Or an old rival?

Do you want to feel better? Because maybe you’re tired of being tired. Maybe you want to be able to get through your day without thinking about getting back home to your couch and back into bed. Maybe you’d like to be able to wake up fresh in the morning having the energy to get through your day.

Do you want to improve a medical condition? Possibly get that A1C down below 7%? Lower your blood pressure or cholesterol?

Do you want to reverse your risk of having a heart attack? Maybe someone close to you or you yourself have suffered from something like that recently. That’s a very powerful motivator.

Let’s not forget the motivator of summer and more revealing clothing. Or just fitting back into last years clothing And feel more confident.

Whatever it is, it is has to be your motivation and the end goal has to be strong and specific. There needs to be a way to know that you’ve achieved your goal, so make it measurable with a number if possible. You have to write it down. You have to put it in a place that you can look back at it whenever you get frustrated. And, most importantly, be realistic! Don’t set yourself up for failure by trying to do the impossible.

We tend to start these things with a lot of enthusiasm, excited to see the outcomes. Then, every day life starts to take its toll. Maybe it’s someone who’s not very supportive. Maybe its previous failures. Maybe you become frustrated because you don’t know what to eat or what to do. Maybe you’re tempted by some of your favorite foods. Then there is that wonderful thing where you’ve been “bad“ or “cheated“, so you throw in the towel and just go back to your old ways. Then you’re left feeling guilty. I really hope to break that cycle.

First, stop using the words “good” and “bad”! Next, write down all of those goals so we can put together a plan. That’s the thing(s) that you’ve been motivated to reach.

To this point we have discussed these Health Interventions:

1. The purpose of this program.

2. Defining what healthy is to you in this phase of your life.

3. Finding the motivation.

4. Setting the goal.

These steps set the stage and gives you a foundation. We are going to take the foundation and we’re going to build on each step. If you don’t start with a good foundation things will crumble.

You might be saying “Get on with it!” “I want to start getting healthy already!” “I want to start losing weight!”

I know! I know!! The rest is coming. Its about to get way more interesting. So, now that we have set this foundation, you have something to go back and look at and remind you what to do when you get stuck or start to backtrack.

I have a purpose for everything. Trust me.

I will keep placing recipes and other things along the way that you may enjoy incorporating into your new healthy lifestyle to keep giving you ideas!