By Kac Young PhD, ND, DCH

Continued from part 1 of this article…..

4) Just because you want to doesn’t mean you have to. Know the power of choice exists in every moment. If you crave something like a cigarette or a candy bar you don’t have to satisfy that need. Elect yourself Captain of Your Own Ship and set some rules for yourself. Make a list of “other” things to do or consume when you feel a craving. You do not have to give in. It could be a life or death choice. Check in with the Captain and be ready to engage in an alternative. Tip #4 is to follow orders. Once you are the Captain, you determine the rules and you happily conform.

5) Lastly, Be SMART. This acronym stands for: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timely.

Make your goals Specific. Know what you want to change and decide how you’re going to change.

Be sure you have ways to Measure your progress. When you can see the changes happening your motivation to stay on track will be strengthened.

Make sure your desired changes are Achievable. Use a bar chart, a graph, or a yardstick to record your progress so you can see and feel your progress as you move towards your goal.

Set Realistic goals and you will be able to observe the changes one step at a time. Don’t set yourself up to fail by setting goals that only Mother Theresa or the Iron Man could achieve.

Develop a Timeline. Once your goal is specific, measurable, achievable and realistic add in a time frame that contains benchmarks you can meet and surpass. You will find that having a deadline will help you achieve the success you desire.

Extra tips for losing weight:

Keep a food journal so you will see what you eat and how often. List the calories consumed, notate your emotions in the moment and review the notes at the end of the day. Make a list of foods you can substitute that are better, healthier choices and keep that list handy for quick reference.

Extra tips for getting organized:

If you want to reduce the clutter, hire an expert or solicit a friend to help you make decisions.
Use the five box technique: Label five boxes with the names: Give Away. Sell. Donate. Recycle. File. When each box is filled, take it away and create another on in its place. Keep going until you can see all your surfaces and everything is put away in its place, or distributed elsewhere.

Extra tips for quitting smoking:

It will take the body approximately 30 days to detox from the over 200 chemicals contained in cigarettes. Help yourself by drinking lots of extra water and eating protein, vegetables and fruit. Refrain from alcohol and other sugars, starches and salts. When you support the detox process with good nutrition your body can readjust to the new chemical structure better and adjust more readily to the healthier way of life and breath.

– Kac Young , a former television director and producer, earned her PhD. in Natural Health and is a Doctor of both Clinical Hypnotherapy and Naturopathy. While earning her Doctorates in Natural Health and Naturopathy, she completed 36 courses in nutrition from Baylor University.