Small Changes, Big Impact: Reset Your Health This Spring

Lancaster, CA.- Spring offers the perfect opportunity to refresh your health habits. Kaiser Permanente Antelope Valley Dietitian, Sophia Villicana Coria, shares practical advice for making sustainable changes that can lead to significant health improvements.

Start Small, Think Big

When it comes to improving health habits, many people believe they need to completely transform their lifestyle overnight. Villicana Coria recommends a different approach.

“Common goals include increasing exercise, losing weight, or making healthier food choices,” she says. “A sustainable approach involves starting with small, manageable goals and gradually building upon them.” This strategy helps prevent the burnout that often follows ambitious health resolutions.

One Step at a Time

Rather than trying to overhaul your entire routine, focus on making one meaningful change and allowing it to become part of your life before adding more.

“Focusing on one goal at a time, such as balancing meals, staying hydrated, or incorporating regular exercise, tends to be more effective,” Villicana Coria explains. “It is easier to make sustainable progress by addressing one area rather than trying to change multiple aspects of one's lifestyle simultaneously.”

This targeted approach can feel less overwhelming and lead to greater success in the long run.

Setting Yourself Up for Success

Your environment plays a crucial role in supporting healthy choices. Villicana Coria emphasizes the importance of creating surroundings that make healthy decisions easier.

“Encouraging patients to avoid purchasing snacks with low nutritional value and instead stock their homes with nutrient-dense foods is key,” says Villicana Coria. “For those beginning an exercise routine, setting aside dedicated time for physical activity and starting slowly can help ensure long-term success.”

Take Action:

• Choose one small health goal to focus on this spring

• Stock your kitchen with nutritious options

• Schedule physical activity on your calendar

• Start with manageable exercise sessions

• Build gradually on your successes

To learn more about nutrition services or to attend a class through Kaiser Permanente’s Center for Health Living, visit kp.org/centerforhealthliving or call 661-726-2200.