You've decided to eat better, even before 2012 starts, but are scared to fail again ?

Here are my top 5 tips to make it a success once and for all:
1. Pick 1 or 2 things you want to change:

Many of us see "going on a diet" as an all or nothing adventure. However, as you might know by now, my moto is that a diet is not a punishment, but it's a lifestyle. And to make changes to your lifestyle, you have to take it one step at a time. Unless obviously you suffer from an illness such as diabetes, where you have to make drastic changes to your eating habits in one go.

Up to you to decide what you can deal with at this moment in time. Pick 1 or 2 things. For instance, drink more water, have 1 cooked meal a day, reduce your soft drink consumption (even diet drinks) and replace it with water, increase your vegetable and fruit consumption, or anything else you believe you can cope with.

Small changes, even if it's 1 or 2 changes over a period of a week or so can make massive changes to the way you feel. Sharing something personal, I recently cut all sweets out of my diet. Eating sweets always made me feel sluggish, and didn't do my digestion any good. Since cutting them out, I feel less tired in the afternoon, and I feel less bloated all the time. Not that I was eating that many sweets in general, but when I did, it was hard to stop after a few.

Once you made your choice, make sure all around you in the house, at work, family and friends know about your choices so they can support you along the way.

2. Make it a habit before moving to the next item:

Once you picked your 1 or 2 changes you're going to implement, make sure it becomes a habit. Once it's a habit, then only pick another 1-2 changes to implement. If you only give yourself a few days, and then make more changes, your body won't be used yet to the first changes, and you won't feel the real benefits from the first changes yet. Once you feel the benefits from your first changes, and you're determined to keep it going because it makes you feel much better over time, you are ready to make your next changes.

Again, pick the 1-2 changes you feel comfortable changing at that moment in time.

3. Be creative:

One of the most important things to make diet changes is being creative. There is nothing worse than eating salad every day for the rest of your life, just because a salad contains vegetables.

If you've decided for instance to eat more vegetables, try vegetables you've never eaten before, try new recipes. There are loads of cooking programmes on TV, but you can also find a huge amount of recipes online. Just be creative, play around with those vegetables. Find the recipes you like and are easy for you to prepare. Some you can freeze when making a huge pot, some you can eat cold the following day. Find your way that works for you.

4. Don't cut out all your "naughty" habits:

Again, unless you've been diagnosed with diabetes and need to cut out all sugar from your diet at once, don't cut out all your favorite less healthy foods. If you really love your chocolate, don't give it totally up. But use it more as a treat. Allow yourself that special treat once in a while, for instance once a week. And enjoy every moment of it.

First of all, the fact that you already introduced healthier foods and habits into your diet will help you have less cravings as your body will be more balanced. But if you know you can have your weekly treat whenever you decide to have it, it should help you overcome those cravings. And remember, cravings come up very strongly, but if you keep yourself busy with something else, the craving will disappear after a while.

I for instance allow myself one dessert a week. I sometimes don't even have it. But it does allow me to plan my week and not feel deprived. So for instance if I know I have a meal out with friends, I know that on that specific evening I can chose to have a dessert if I'm not full beforehand. Or if I go to a birthday party and there is a yummie cake, I know I can have it. That way I don't feel deprived. But to be honest, I realise that I probably only have one every other week or so.

5. Don't feel bad about social outings:

So you're going out with the girls, have a company dinner, a family birthday party, a wedding, or whatever other social event you need or want to attend and know that food wise you will be limited in choice.

Don't worry about it. Try and make better choices if you can, however remember that healthy eating is a lifestyle, it's not an "all or nothing" situation. So if that evening or lunch you had a little more to eat than what you normally would do, or you had something to eat you normally wouldn't, don't worry. The following meal, just get back onto your normal new eating habits. As long as it's a one off once in a while, and you are aware of it, nothing is lost.

And remember, after creating new healthy habits, when you'll be out, you probably won't feel like ordering that big fatty meal you normally would have done in the past. Your body just won't crave it anymore.

If you need support with making lasting changes to your eating habits, I can help you to succeed for the long run. Just give me, Anne Iarchy, Personal Trainer Barnet and North London a call on 07880627944 or email me at anne@barnetpersonaltrainer.co.uk.