Blog: How to stick to an exercise habit

Welcome to this month's Bite Sized Habits Insights.

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This month we shared:

• Why taking a holistic approach to your health, rather than a weight loss approach is more beneficial to long term success
• The importance of finding credible sources of information to support your healthy habit journey
• The power of consistently focusing on adapting your healthy habits for greater enjoyment

To hear about how Martin rebuilt his habits from scratch to create systems that allowed him to be happier and healthier whilst managing a busy family life and business click here for Part 1 – on how he built the foundations for his healthy habits and Part 2 on his system of healthy habits and how he maintains consistency.

I also shared my top 5 research insights on social media about;

1. How to harness the power of motivational science to stick to an exercise habit.
2. Why weight loss challenges are not helpful.
3. Why obesity should be seen as a disease
4. The impact alcohol is having on our long term health
5. The importance of enjoying your healthy habits and the impact it can have on your self control (Links and insights below). 

June's top 5 research insights into how to build healthy habits that last:

1. How to stick to an exercise habit: A fantastic summary of the top evidence based ways to harness the power of motivational science to help your form, and importantly stick to an exercise habit. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/using-behavioral-science-to-build-an-exercise-habit/
2. Why weight loss challenges are not helpful. Why you should avoid gimmicky weight loss challenges. Ultimately, weight loss should be seen as a journey not a destination. http://www.drsharma.ca/why-weight-loss-challenges-send-the-wrong-message-2
3. Obesity is a disease; not a moral failing and treatment is far more complex than what it is often deduced to “simple calories in calories out equation”. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/obesity-is-complicated-and-so-is-treating-it-2018053013943
4. The impact of alcohol: A serious look at the science behind how our beliefs and treatment of alcohol could be having negative implications on our long term health. https://www.vox.com/2018/4/24/17242720/alcohol-health-risks-facts
5. You have a lot more willpower when you focus on what you enjoy about your healthy habits: This article details how reframing your healthy habits to see the joy in them and the impact it can have on your ability to resist temptation. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/ritual-and-the-brain/201806/you-have-more-control-over-your-self-control-you-think