3 Steps To Leaving Your Comfort Zone Behind

In order to lose weight and keep it off you must break out of your comfort zone and move into unknown territory. This can be intimidating and stressful but it doesn't have to be. This article will walk you through how to successfully navigate your way out of your comfort zone and create new beneficial habits.

1. Experiment with New Ways of Being

When you set your mind on losing weight you start to see new ways of doing things that can replace your old habits, my advice is to experiment with these new ways of being before committing to them.

For instance, if you have decided to get real about your afternoon sugar habit you might decide that you want to replace the sugar with a salad. Before you commit to this new plan, experiment with it. Try it out for a few days and note how well it fits into your life and how satisfying it is. This way if an experiment doesn't work out then the experiment failed and you can try again. If however, you commit to change and it doesn't work out, then you are more likely to feel that you failed.

2. Commit

Once you have gone through the experimentation and found a solution that satisfies you, you are ready to commit. Write down in one sentence what you now do.

Example: "I take a 10 minute walking break every day at 2 pm to clear my mind and give myself an energy boost."

3. Repeat, Repeat, Repeat

You are almost there! There is a common theory that a new habit can be created in 21 days. I always saw this as flawed because it implies that simply doing a different action for 21 days will create permanent change. What I have found is that you must first change the thought behind the habit and this comes with repetition.

For the next 21 days repeat your commitment phrase to yourself every chance you get. If you are stopped at a traffic light, waiting in line, looking for a snack, whatever you are doing, repeat it over and over again. I suggest repeating the statement 21 times each day for 21 days.

This step-by-step process will take some time and a little bit of effort but you will successfully move out of your comfort zone. Old habits can change and you can stick to a healthy eating and living plan, so find a commitment you can feel good about and keep moving toward your goal.

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