john paul runyon: how to change bad habits into heart healthy habits

H O W T O C H A N G E B A D H A B I T S I N T O H E A RT H E A LT H Y H A B I T S

CREATED BY JOHN PAUL RUNYON

“An unhealthy habit is easy to develop and hard to live with; a healthy habit is

harder to develop but easier to live with”

Identifying what you want to change in yourself is probably the most important part of this habit-

changing process.

Learn to form

healthy habits by replacing the bad ones.

• Substituting unhealthy habits for healthy ones rewards you with more stamina, better quality of

life – and a healthier you.

• That is easier said than done, of course, but some simple tips can help you tackle even the most

indulgent and hardest-to-kick habits.

•For example, if the habit you are trying to replace is smoking, perhaps you could suck on a lollipop

every time you are craving a cigarette.

Break a big goal into smaller short-term goals.

Tell someone you trust – not someone who will sabotage you.

Be accountable to someone all the time. It’s toughest forming a healthy habit if you don’t have

support.

For example, if you tell your best friend that you are going to work out after work, hopefully she will follow up with you to check if you actually went, making you

instantly more accountable.

On the other hand, if you don’t tell anyone about your after work gym plans, it becomes easier for you to

change the plan and not go.

Allow a “cheat” once in a

while.

Last but certainly not least, GET ACTIVE!