Making a Change for the Better

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Making a Change for the Better

• The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension
  Service

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Why Should I Change?

• Feel better
• Reduce cost of medical care
• Keep you here for your loved ones
• Prevent complications you dont want

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Easier to Start New Habit Than Change Old
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Successful Change

• Be specific about what you want to do
• Make a plan
• Set a time for action
• Write it down
• Ask for help from others
• Monitor progress

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Plan Rewards

• Write down possible rewards up front
• Make worthy of the effort
• May need small rewards all long to keep motivated

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Helping Joe Change

• The situation Doctor wants Joe to eat less fried
  food so his weight will go down
• Present situation Joe eats fried food at least
  twice a day.

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What specifically is Joes Goal?

• Joe will eat more baked, boiled and broiled food
  instead of as much fried food.

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How will Joe do it?

• Joe will have baked potatoes instead of fried.
• Joe will have baked or broiled meat, chicken or
  fish.
• Joe will have cereal instead of fried eggs and
  bacon.

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Who Will Support Joe?

• Joe asks his wife not to fix fried food that
  week.
• Joe asks his friends to go to a restaurant where
  he can order food that is baked or broiled.

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How will Joe know if he did it?

• Joe will keep a food diary of what he eats for a
  week.

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How will Joe reward himself?

• Joe will work a half hour on his wood working
  hobby each time he skips the fried food.
• If he doesnt have fried food for one week, he
  will go to a movie.

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What Do You Want to Change?

• Write it down specifically what you want to
  change
• How will you do it?
• Who will you need to ask for support?
• How will you know you did it?
• What will be your reward(s)?