HealthyLife Articles

Tag: replace

  • Say Goodbye To Bad Habits

    WELL-BEING

    Doctor holding apple in one hand and a donut in the other hand.

    Experts say that to stop an unhealthy habit, you must replace it with a healthy habit. Here’s how to get started.

    *Set a date.Make a plan for when you intend to quit your bad habit. Put it in your calendar or planner.

    *Stop the triggers.For instance, don’t eat in front of the T.V. if you tend to overeat while watching it. Eat at a table without distractions.

    *Keep track.Anytime you avoid your unhealthy habit, write down your victory. You’ll see how far you’ve come. This can help you stay motivated.

    *Be kind to yourself.Promise yourself a healthy reward when you meet a certain milestone. And, don’t focus on setbacks or mistakes. Instead, be proud of the things that you did well.

    Source: National Institutes of Health

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • Dispute Unhelpful Thoughts

    Healthylife® Weigh

    Part 4

    Man thinking in front of black chalk board with arrows pointing.

    Thinking in all-or-nothing terms using words like “always,” “never,” and “every” can make it difficult to see options. Avoid thinking about people or situations using absolute terms. Logical thinking looks at more than one option. People can act in different ways. Situations can have many outcomes.

    Have you had any of the unhelpful thoughts below:

    *  Gaining weight and moving less is just part of getting older.

    *  Taking care of myself is selfish.

    *  I weigh less than those around me. At least I am doing better than they are.

    *  My spouse does the grocery shopping and cooking so I have very little control over what I eat.

    *  Eating healthy is too expensive.

    Question your unhelpful thoughts. The strategies on the following pages help to break down thoughts that you may be using as excuses not to change. If you notice you are thinking in absolutes, identify alternatives to your black and white thoughts.

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine