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Determining your personal stage of readiness

James O. Prochaska and his colleagues at the University of Rhode Island discovered that there are various stages of readiness for developing any kind of lifestyle change. According to their transtheoretical model (a model of behavior change that has been the basis for developing effective interventions to promote health behavior change), every person goes through each stage at one time or another when creating any kind of change in his or her life, and each stage is equally important.

To figure out which stage of readiness you're in right now and to discover some steps you can take during that stage, pick one of the following italicized statements that best describes you.

Others (friends, family, doctors) want me to lose weight or make changes to my diet, but it isn't that important to me.

You're in the precontemplation stage. You may not have any interest in making lifestyle changes at this time, but consider exploring why your friends and family have concerns about your health. Plan a time to get some feedback from a close friend or relative who can give you objective information about why she's concerned. When you're in this stage, ask yourself the following questions: Why do others want me to make changes? How will I know when it's the right time for me to make changes toward weight loss and better health?

I want to lose weight, but my life is too busy right now to think about diet and exercise. I just don't have time to think about it.

You're in the contemplation stage. You may be considering the possibility that you want to make changes but feel you can't right at this time. Stay proactive during this stage by continuing to absorb information about weight loss and nutrition. Ask yourself the following questions: What kind of information and support will I need to start making changes to lose weight? What are the risks and benefits of making lifestyle changes?

I've taken steps such as buying a weight-loss book and/or joining a gym, but I haven't started yet.

You're in the preparation stage. You're preparing to take action in the near future. You're ready to see all the options available so you can take the right steps toward change. When you're in this stage, ask yourself the following questions: What kind of support do I need to step into action? What types of obstacles are getting in my way?

I've recently started taking some sort of action toward change such as walking, going to the gym, or changing my food choices.

You're in the action stage. The action stage is a very fragile one. You need a great support team to help you through it. Make sure your family and friends are onboard with your weight-loss goals so they can provide you with support and motivation. Ask yourself the following questions: What do I need in place to keep up my new changes? What types of things motivate me now?

I've recently incorporated new behaviors into my lifestyle yet occasionally I may have some setbacks.

You're in the maintenance stage. You've made some permanent lifestyle changes that have already resulted in weight loss. You may feel from time to time that yoe experiencing some setbacks. Just remember that setbacks are normal and will happen occasionally. When they occur, take some time to figure out what has gotten in the way of your efforts to be consistent. Then ask yourself the following questions: What types of life events have led up to my setbacks? How can I make different choices in the future to keep me on track? What type of support do I need right now?

Making Change a Family Affair

If you have a family, trust me when I say that incorporating a low-glycemic diet into your life is far easier when you get your spouse and/or children involved. Getting good meals on the table is difficult enough. The last thing you need is your spouse and kids all wanting separate meals. That's a recipe for disaster that makes it much harder for you to successfully change your lifestyle.

Fortunately,