Stages of Change: Maintenance

Maintenance: It's been a week/month, I can do this! I am doing this!

I am going to tell you right now, so you do not feel deceived, that you will probably go through these stages several times before you make it completely through the cycle without a few hiccups. One analogy I heard and still use frequently is this: You have slipped down a few steps. Don't do yourself the disservice of throwing yourself to the bottom of the flight. Just because you slipped down a few steps DOES NOT mean you're back at the bottom starting from Square One. Let me repeat this: YOU DID NOT FAIL. You fell, you did not fail.

Look how far you've come! You've lost 5 lbs, you stopped smoking for 3 months, you take your medications every.single.day, you stopped heroin for 3 weeks, you walk every day! You weren't doing these things before. You are now. Great job!! You have so much knowledge now about yourself, your condition, your environment. You have made great progress. There may be a hiccup, a party or holiday, being in a stressful situation, had a visit with someone unexpected, a death, etc. You will learn to manage and make progress.

How many times have I been though this cycle? More than 10. Each time, I am closer to getting through without having to repeat the whole cycle or some part of it. And, while in maintenance, you may discover other issues that need change- so the cycle will begin again. For example, you've quit smoking! Great! But now you realize that you're addicted to Tic Tacs. Well, this is an improvement, but you've basically just transferred addictions. In time, you will be able to address the emotional connection and overcome this which will then lead to not smoking AND not popping Tic Tacs.

Maintenance looks different to different people, I think. It's a life-long state for me, in a sense. I work through my issues in the cycle, get to a point where I am managing and thriving. I experience a hiccup, re evaluate and begin again, eventually achieving maintenance. You should be maintaining something most of the time. Right?

Life is growth. Development. Self improvement.

Many patients work very hard to achieve a fasting blood sugar (FBS) of less than 140 (for diabetics). Once they ACHIEVE this, they MAINTAIN their regimen. What are they eating? What medications are they taking? How active are they? All questions of behaviors that DIRECTLY contribute to the desired outcome. They MAINTAIN their lifestyle to achieve the desired outcome of a FBS less than 140.