You may not think your mind has anything to do with the extra weight around your middle, being able to exercise more or eat healthier, but it does. In a big way.

If you haven’t gone through the steps to wrap your head around what you want to achieve and how to get there, then you’re going to have a tough time when you’re in front of your favorite snack (hello cake) or getting up the gumption to exercise.

Think about it.

Have you ever been asked by a friend to do a “diet” with her/him? You start, but aren’t really that into it because…heck, WHY are you even doing it?

Or decided to take action yourself and without major accountability from a person or a special date (weddings are big ones) you couldn’t seem to keep up with the healthy changes you wanted to make?

If you’re nodding yes, then read on because FYI…

success in anything starts in your head

Start with setting goals. What do you want to do/achieve?

Here are some my clients sometimes start with.

I want to:

• Eat healthier
• Lose weight
• Exercise more
• Meditate
• Be the best me

Great! Love it!

So you want to eat healthier, but really, what does that mean?

Does it mean that you stop snacking after dinner? Eat a salad once and a while? What are you going to eat? For how long? When?

You’re all pumped up excited and ready to go with eating healthier but not 100% sure what it means at this point.

This is where setting clear intentions comes in.

Goals need to be clear, specific, timed and achievable.

I can’t stress enough to make your goal achievable. It’s easy to write these things down in theory but in practice is where it can fall apart. Don’t set yourself up to fail; there’s nothing wrong with starting slow. It actually can help you achieve more.

Here’s an example of a clear, specific, timed goal:

I will start to eat healthier by eating a salad for lunch, 3 times per week, Mon, Wed, Fri, that includes protein (tuna) and healthy fat (avocado).

Okay, so I had to include the bit about the protein and healthy fat because so many people miss out on that and are hungry again in an hour.

But do you see the difference?

The original thought (goal) was 'I want to eat healthier', which doesn't really give you the steps to get there.

In the example above there is no way you’re unclear about what you want to do (your intention), so by the end of the week you know whether you’ve achieved it or not.

The amount of “eating healthier” goal is up to you (Yay! We’re all unique). If you can only handle a salad three times a week, then start with that and then build on it.

Your specific goals are a way to set really clear intentions and are the first step in creating your Health and Wellness Success.

The second step is to Know Your WHY.

WHY on earth would you want to make any changes in your life?

Creating a sustained change can be HARD.

Knowing your WHY makes it clear in your head AND heart because there’s emotion behind this one.

The best way to find your WHY is to think about your goal and start writing all the reasons you can come up with for WHY you want to do it.

I want to _________________ (insert goal) because ______________(insert WHY)

You may come up with 3 things or 30. Just keep writing.

When you’ve done that, take a look at what you’ve written and find the one that really resonates with you, the one that invokes an emotion.

So let me ask you. Is that emotion positive? Or did you write most or all of your WHY’s in a negative connotation?

Something like:

• I want to lose weight because I don’t want to feel like a slob.

If you did don’t worry, most of us think that way first.

How does that feel in your body though? Anger, discouraged, frustration.

Yuck. Who wants to feel that way?

Instead how about creating a WHY that lets you feel uplifted, excited, positive.

I want to lose weight so I can fit into my favorite jeans more comfortably; they make me feel so sexy.

See the difference? Make your WHY positive, so you feel excited, uplifted and eager to stay on track.

Now you’re on your way to Creating Your Health and Wellness Success.

Let’s be honest though, sometimes it can be hard to figure this stuff out on your own, and it’s easier to talk it through with someone.

If you need help articulating your goals, finding your WHY and having a clear action plan to get you started, click the button How We Get You There button below.

You can do it. I can help.