Over the upcoming weeks and months I’ll give you my thoughts about the behavior change planning process.  I have added a page to this blog, the Weight Loss Plan Components page,  that gives an overview of the components of most behavior change planning.  Even though it’s focused on weight loss, it’s useful for whatever behavior you are trying to change.  Weight loss is a little more complicated than most others since it usually includes behavior changes in eating and exercise. 

By the way, think of behavior change as habit change.  Most of the healthier lifestyle activities that we want to add to our lives require changing or stopping our current not-so-healthy habits or behaviors.  Usually the best way to stop one behavior is to substitute another healthier one for the unhealthy one. 

Since you are reading this, you are at the very least considering making some behavior change.  Starting to build your plan will require you to consider why you want to make your change and how will you know you’ve succeeded.  It’s best to spend the time writing your own behavior change plan before you take action.  On the next post, we’ll talk a bit more about goals and motivation.

Regards,

Dr. Bob