{"id":2650,"date":"2022-01-26T09:43:00","date_gmt":"2022-01-26T09:43:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/slimmingworld.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/?p=2650"},"modified":"2024-11-08T09:41:07","modified_gmt":"2024-11-08T09:41:07","slug":"inspire-how-to-make-new-habits-stick","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/blog\/inspire-how-to-make-new-habits-stick\/","title":{"rendered":"How to make new habits stick"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Deciding that we want to make some changes to help us feel happier and healthier is a fantastic first step. It\u2019s the next part \u2013 sticking to those changes \u2013 that can be the bigger challenge, with many of us struggling to keep that motivation up long term.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Slimming World is based on a deep understanding of the psychology of slimming. We\u2019ve been helping members make healthy changes their \u2018new normal\u2019 for more than 50 years. So we asked our head of research and scientific affairs, Dr Jacquie Lavin, and leading psychologist Dr Linda Papadopoulos for their advice:<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/group-or-online-membership\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"122\" src=\"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/SmallCTA-BelieveInASlimmingWorldChristmas_SlimmingWorldBlog.1.jpg\" alt=\"Believe in a Slimming World Christmas - CTA\" class=\"wp-image-10437\"\/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"set-goals\"><strong>Set goals<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Having something to aim for can bring you tangible results \u2013 and seeing those results will encourage you to stick with it. Some goals may be long term (such as your target weight), while others may be medium- or short-term aims, like building up to a certain number of activity sessions a week, or trying some new Slimming World recipes.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Slimming World\u2019s Dr Jacquie Lavin suggests setting SMART goals, which are specific and have a clear outcome. \u201cFor example, if you want to be more active, your aim could be going for a&nbsp; brisk 15 minute walk every Saturday and Sunday for the next four weeks. If you want to eat more healthily, it could be adding an extra portion of vegetables to your evening meals everyday for the next two weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover\" style=\"min-height:382px;aspect-ratio:unset;\"><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim-100 has-background-dim\" style=\"background-color:#0097ca\"><\/span><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-cover-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\" id=\"smart-goals-are-specificmeasurableattainablerealistictimed\"><strong>SMART goals are:<\/strong><br><br>Specific<br>Measurable<br>Attainable<br>Realistic<br>Timed<\/h3>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/member.slimmingworld.co.uk\/features\/slimming-motivation\">MORE FOR MEMBERS: Get more advice on goal-setting here<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"take-small-steps\"><strong>Take small steps<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Little changes can quickly add up to a healthier lifestyle. Dr Jacquie suggests taking small steps and building up. \u201cThis will help to prevent you from doing too much too soon, becoming overwhelmed or frustrated, and then giving up. If you see each mini step as a success, this will give you a feeling of achievement, which will motivate you on to the next step.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/member.slimmingworld.co.uk\/features\/healthy-habits\">MORE FOR MEMBERS: Boost your weight loss this week with these small and simple changes<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"get-into-a-routine\"><strong>Get into a routine<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cDoing something regularly is key to making a new behaviour stick,\u201d says Dr Jacquie. \u201cFitting something into your day\/week and doing it frequently will make it feel natural going forward. You could even put a weekly batch-cooking session or workout in your diary as making an appointment with yourself can make it more likely to happen.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Having a regular routine is especially important during challenging times, when healthy habits can help us feel more grounded. Joining a supportive Slimming World group means setting aside some time each week to focus on the weight loss that you want. Together we\u2019ll look at any challenges, with plenty of food ideas and tips from other members to help you stay on track.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover\"><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim-100 has-background-dim\" style=\"background-color:#0097ca\"><\/span><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-cover-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>The power of group \u2013 proven!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u200b\u200bSlimming World\u2019s research with 1.1 million members \u2013 the UK\u2019s biggest research sample \u2013 highlights that being part of a group is key to slimming success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2022 Members who attend their weekly Slimming World group regularly (at least 75% of sessions) lose more weight, achieving an average of 7.7% weight loss (1st 1.4lbs) in their first three months and 14% weight loss (2st 3lbs) on average over the course of a year<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2022 The more group sessions our members attend, the more successful they are. Based on their weight-loss over a year, the top 10,000 slimmers who attended their weekly Slimming World group at least 45 times in a year lost 30% of their body weight \u2013 around 5st each<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"share-the-experience\"><strong>Share the experience<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>According to leading psychologist Dr Linda Papadopoulos, \u201cWhen you\u2019re on a journey of change, feeling like other people have experienced that, too, is fundamental.\u201d Slimming World groups, whether they\u2019re running in real life or virtually, are the ideal place to find those like-minded people who can help to inspire, support and motivate you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dr Jacquie also points out that letting those close to you know about your goals will mean they\u2019re less likely to unintentionally sabotage your efforts, for example, by offering you a glass of wine if you\u2019re trying to drink less alcohol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/member.slimmingworld.co.uk\/features\/how-we-made-our-weight-loss-last\">MORE FOR MEMBERS: Our slimmers reveal the habits that helped them reach their target weight \u2013 and stay there!<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"be-realistic\"><strong>Be realistic<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>To help make any new behaviour something that you do frequently, it needs to be something that fits in with your lifestyle and your personal likes and dislikes. Dr Jacquie explains, \u201cIf you want to be more active but hate running, there\u2019s no point saying that you\u2019ll go for a daily jog. Maybe dancing is an activity that you enjoy? Aiming to do more of that is much more likely to become a lasting habit.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/member.slimmingworld.co.uk\/features\/how-to-turn-activity-into-a-habit\">MORE FOR MEMBERS: Discover how to turn activity into a habit \u2013 and make it stick!<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"be-proud-of-your-achievements\"><strong>Be proud of your achievements<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Looking at how far you\u2019ve come can be a fantastic motivator to keep going. \u201cPeople always look at how much they still have to do, not how much they\u2019ve already achieved,\u201d says Dr Linda, \u201cIt\u2019s the same with weight loss. Pausing to look back at your starting point can often give you a huge boost.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We encourage our members to be proud of their progress, right from the very beginning, with many choosing to take photos as a powerful visual reminder. If that\u2019s not for you, there are lots of other inventive ways our members reflect on their achievements \u2013 from adding pebbles to a jar for every pound lost or displaying their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/blog\/what-is-body-magic\/\">Body Magic awards<\/a> to keeping the colourful size markers from clothes hangers or older items of clothing that they\u2019ve slimmed out of.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/member.slimmingworld.co.uk\/features\/motivation\">MORE FOR MEMBERS: You\u2019ll find a motivation masterclass here<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"plan-for-challenges\"><strong>Plan for challenges<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>When you\u2019re trying to make a lasting lifestyle change, it\u2019s normal to hit obstacles along the way. Accepting this and being prepared for it will help you to move past any bumps. Dr Jacquie says, \u201cLook ahead and think about what may get in the way of your progress, then consider how you could overcome these stoppers. Having an action plan ready will help you to keep going and not let a slip up mean giving up completely.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/member.slimmingworld.co.uk\/features\/how-to-overcome-slimming-setbacks\">MORE FOR MEMBERS: How to overcome slimming setbacks, revealed<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"focus-on-the-positive\"><strong>Focus on the positive<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Thinking about what we\u2019re giving up can make new habits feel like a punishment. Dr Jacquie suggests focusing instead on what you\u2019re adding to your life. She says, \u201cTry not to fixate on what you\u2019re cutting down on, whether it\u2019s certain foods that you\u2019re having a bit less of or TV time that you want to fill with activity. Instead, think about what you\u2019re having more of and the delicious, healthy meals you\u2019re eating, the benefits that weight loss will bring to you or how energised you feel after a workout. Celebrate even the smallest positive changes in how you feel, as this will help give you the momentum you need to keep going.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/member.slimmingworld.co.uk\/features\/the-power-of-saying-yes\">MORE FOR MEMBERS: Discover the power of saying yes!<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"don-t-be-afraid-of-change\"><strong>Don\u2019t be afraid of change<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Sometimes, as much as we want to make changes, it can feel quite scary and uncomfortable. Dr Linda explains, \u201cThere can be fear there, as the whole notion of a \u2018new identity\u2019 is about letting go of an old one. We might wonder if we\u2019re going to like this \u2018other person\u2019 as much.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Of course, slimming isn\u2019t about becoming a \u2018new you\u2019 \u2013 the \u2018old you\u2019 is pretty fantastic for deciding to take positive action to feel happier and healthier! At Slimming World we recognise that being kind to ourselves, at all stages of our weight loss journeys, is key to success. So you\u2019ll never find any judgement in our groups, and you\u2019ll never feel like you\u2019re being deprived of anything when you follow our plan.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you feel like anxiety around change is holding you back, looking at your core reasons could help. In group, we encourage members to think about those deeper reasons \u2013 which can boost motivation when it\u2019s most needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/member.slimmingworld.co.uk\/features\/transform-your-change-mindset\">MORE FOR MEMBERS: Learn about the \u2018slimming curve\u2019 and use our tool to stay in control<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Slimming World members will find four practical exercises to really help cement those new healthy habits in our <a href=\"https:\/\/member.slimmingworld.co.uk\/features\/changes-that-stick\"><em>How to make changes that stick<\/em> <\/a>feature, as well as tailored behaviour changes support in group.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Are ready to tap into the power of Slimming World groups to achieve an amazing weight loss in your first three months? We&#8217;re ready and waiting to welcome you to our supportive, full-of-ideas community of slimmers just like you! <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/group-or-online-membership\">Discover two great ways to join Slimming World here<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Forming healthy new routines is key for successful weight loss \u2013 and we\u2019ve got expert advice on how to make those changes last for life<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":3639,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[22,39,16],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2650"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2650"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2650\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10593,"href":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2650\/revisions\/10593"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3639"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2650"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2650"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2650"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}