Hi ,

Do you remember that old Brady Bunch episode in which the Brady kids are singing and Peter's voice starts changing in the middle of the song, causing him to sing off-key? The song lyrics went:

"When it's time to change you've got to rearrange
Move your heart to what you're gonna be
sha na na na na na na sha na na na na na..."

These lyrics came to mind this morning as I thought about how both of the presidential candidates are talking about the need for change. While it's easy to see that our country needs change, it's even easier to see when you need to change personally:

The pain of staying the same outweighs the "pain" of making the change.

When I had chest pain five years ago, clearly the pain of staying the same was greater than the pain of changing. I knew that if I didn't make changes to live a healthier lifestyle, I would live to regret it. While I made the decision to change instantly, making the change a part of my lifestyle took time.

If you've been considering improving your health and/or losing weight, then take a moment to see where you might be in the change process.

Stage 1 (Precontemplation): "I don't want to change" or "I can't change."

Stage 2 (Contemplation): "I'm thinking about changing."

Stage 3 (Preparation): "I'm making plans for change."

Stage 4  (Action): "I'm taking steps to change."

Stage 5 (Maintenance): "I've changed and it's part of my life."

Each stage has its own unique challenges before you can move forward to the next one. For example, at Stage 1, your goal is a heart change; the focus is increasing your knowledge about why the change is a good, your desire for change, and your faith that change is possible for you.

Part of my role as a wellness coach is to assess where you are in the stages of change and assist you in moving forward at your own pace so you can get the weight loss/health results you want. A coach is particularly useful at any stage if you are stuck and don't know what to do to get "unstuck".

If you are at Stages 2-4, then a coach can also give you knowledge and guidance on how to incorporate the changes needed to help you reach your perfect weight.

Either way, your goal is to get to Stage 5 because that is when your new change has become a part of you. Even if you stumble back into your old habits, you don't stay there because "That's not who I am anymore." It's a great place to be and I hope you will start today on the road to change so you can live life abundantly and well from this day forward.

Be blessed in health, wealth, and wisdom,

Kimberly Floyd, C.W.C.
Certified Wellness Coach
Author of 'MoneyWise Weight Loss'
http://www.takebackyourtemple.com
Take Back Your Temple

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