What's this page about?

This page explains the premise of this guide and the principals upon which it is built.

A new weight loss paradigm

As I've said before, my approach to weight loss is a bit different: Instead of embarking on a diet, we will focus on a change of lifestyle which will hopefully result, among other things, in weight loss.

What's a does a "healthy lifestyle" mean anyway? And what's the difference between a good 'ol diet and a healthy lifestyle? Naturally, there are many different definitions for both. Here's my idea of the difference between the two:

A Diet...	A Healthy Lifestyle...
...lasts for a few weeks, perhaps a few months	...is a permanent change. It's for life
...is motivated and maintained by fears and desires	...is motivated and maintained by vital health and joy
...entails rapid (and at times unhealthy) weight loss	...entails gradual and controlled weight loss
...limits with strict, cold-turkey changes	...frees with healthy choices and "Leaning in" to change
...is associated with feelings of depravation & guilt	...is guilt free & self-gaining
...deals with the symptoms	...addresses the underlying causes of weight gain

Sounds great. Sign me up!

It does sound kind of cool, doesn't it? But it's not all pink and pretty. As you may have already noticed, if you're looking to lose a few pounds quickly before a wedding or need a beach body in two weeks, perhaps this guide isn't for you. However, if you want to feel healthy, vital, energetic, and beautiful, you're come to the right place.

Taking one step at a time towards a healthy life

We want to do this right, right? So first of all, let's not rush. It's a known fact that the slower you lose weight, the more likely you are to keep it off. Besides, who needs the stress of an all-or-nothing, dive-into-the-deep-end diet? Lets let these ideas go. We're going to make changes one step at a time. Who knows? It might even turn out to be fun.

Taking the first step

There is no doubt that the beginnings are challenging. The road ahead seems so long and scary. You can't see the end. And it seems that the new food you're trying out is tasteless, the workout routine is painful, and your weight isn't even change at all. We've all been there.

This is why your commitment is so important; it keeps going through these first stages. Once you've "broken through" the difficult part, living healthy becomes second nature, effortless and joyous, and all these struggles will be a distant memory. Promise.

Committing to a healthy lifestyle

If you haven't written a contract already, either head over to the personal health contract generator or write one yourself. There are many online resources that will help you do just that. Keep in mind that the contract should serve you: it can be personal or public, harsh or permissive, compassionate or strict - find what's right for you. It's purpose is to strengthen your commitment; the means are less important as long as it is effective in doing this.

But which ever way you choose, please make one. And remember - there's no point in stuffing in a drawer. Keep it somewhere you will see it daily.

Dressing for success

Have you ever tried one of those diets which starts off by changing your entire menu to something along the lines of broccoli and cabbage and forces you to jog ten miles at 5 a.m. every day?

If you have, you may already know what I've learned the hard way: permanent change best achieved gradually. Statements such as "From now on I'm only eating healthy foods" are well intentioned and at times very motivated, but they're not always very practical.

Just to emphasize how imporant this is, I'll frame it and add a small exclamation mark.


Our motivation can only take us so far. In the long run, we will only keep doing something we enjoy.That's because it's an emotion, and most emotions change and/or fade away.Habits, on the other hand, tend to be ingrained deeper within us. The good new is that we can use this to our advantage!

Cultivating healthy habits

Habits are built over time. Specifically, research shows that if you maintain a certain action for 21 days, it becomes a habit. That's why we're working on changing our habits. How are we going to do that? Again, by leaning into changes: Taking a brisk walk on an early monday morning, or ordering a meal that is a bit healthier next time you eat out. Sounds simple, right? That's because it is. To lead a healthy lifestyle, all we need to do is adopt healthy habits, one by one.

So, now we have a "formula" or pattern for success: make a small change, keep it for 21 days - and repeat. Go at your own pace. Be forgiving. Challenge yourself. Gradually, you will build your confidence. You will change our habits. You will realize that you can change.

Keeping track of your changes and weight loss

Keeping track of the changes you make is a great way to gauge you progress. For example, you can make a spreadsheet or draw a simple table that shows the habits you're trying to cultivate and how long you've been able to keep them up. I'm not a fan of weighing every day - I'll explain why in one of the articles.

I am, however, a fan of those little bits of insight that make big differences. The Healthy Living Log & Diary helps you keep track of these insights. Just print out the document, read on, and write down the things that speak to you most.

Healthy living requires taking action

Keep in mind that the most important thing is to actually take action. We tend to get very excited about losing weight, getting ourselves worked up and ready to go - and then going back to our regular routine. You won't think the weight off, trust me. You need to act on all the changes you decide to make.

Moving on

That's it! You're ready to move on to the healthy tips section.