Whispering Winds of Personal Change
by Melissa Busse

Winter winds usher in the changing of the cold fronts along with the New Year and its own whispering winds of personal change. What has El Nino been telling you this year?

aaaahe breezes that nudge you in the realm of health and fitness have likely been stirring for some time. You already know you should be eating more fresh fruits and veggies. It's not news that you should be active every day. The risks of putting off healthy behaviors or continuing in unhealthy ones are well known. But, we are creatures of habit. Taking action on what we know to be true and breaking bad routines is the hard part.

aaaaPopular behavioral science recognizes five stages of change. Your location along that scale best predicts whether or not your actions are consistent with your knowledge. Those stages are:

aaaaPre-contemplation –- Not ready for change aaaaContemplation –- Thinking of and aware of change aaaaAction –- Ready and agreeable to methods and aaaasacrifice to change aaaaMaintenance –- Change is in effect, reinforcement is aaaaneeded aaaaRelapse –- A return to pre-change conditions, however aaaatemporary; can be overcome and corrected

aaaaPerhaps you can identify with one or more of these? Grocery shopping for good foods? Making time in your day for stress relief? Driving from the office to the gym before going home?

aaaaThe reason more than 75% of New Year's resolutions fail is because most people attempt to go from a pre-contemplative phase to maintenance with full expectation that it's just that easy. Real success, however, lies in understanding personal strengths and setting realistic goals.

aaaaIn this installment of 31 Magazine, the Bod Squad wants to issue a throw-down to the readers. Now that January is over, instead of lamenting over failed resolutions, pick three different health-related behaviors that have been on your conscience for awhile and identify where along the scale of change you fall. Resolve in February to move one step further along the scale in each. If a post-Super Bowl anaolgy is helpful, you can think of it as moving the ball down the field.

aaaaIf you're at a loss to think of three behaviors, might I suggest: Getting a physical; drinking 64 oz. of water a day; cutting out fried foods; running a 5K (about 3 miles); regulating your bedtime routine; eating a healthy breakfast; stocking up on easy, healthy snacks; avoiding drive-throughs; adding fruits or vegetables to every meal; walking during your lunch break; doing crunches during commercial breaks; taking the dog for a good long walk; or lowing your BMI (if yours is over 25).

aaaaWhen you have spare time, the Bod Squad highly suggests the following site: http://at.bc.edu/runningtime/. The video is just over 20 minutes, but worth every second. These have been my heroes for the past three years. You might want a box of Kleenex to curl up with while you watch. There is no better living example of love and sacrifice, and making healthy choices even when all the odds are stacked against you.

aaaaWe'd love to hear about your successes as you take the Bod Squad's change challenge. Send comments or stories to thirtyonemag@yahoo.com.