Now that you have an awareness around your beliefs about food and your body, and you have empowered yourself to make new choices, you are ready to take the third essential step to changing your food habits. I believe this is the most crucial step for sustainable change, leading to weight loss, a more positive body image, greater self-esteem and respect - whatever it is that you are wanting to achieve. This step is Taking Consistent Action On The Desired Changes.

The first question to ask yourself, now that you have decided you have a CHOICE, rather than just being a victim to your reactions, is

"What am I ready to change?"

This is an important question. Your goal, for example, may be to lose ten kilos, but you have no idea how you are going to achieve that right now. Therefore, in this moment, if you were to focus on losing 10 kilos you would feel overwhelmed. That is why it's important to break it down into manageable steps - let's call them baby steps.

This step cannot be underestimated. Especially if you want lasting change. You are counting on yourself here to be accountable for a new way of living. If you are to be your own cheerleader, it is imperative that you don't feel like you are denying yourself. Because you CAN do it.

You just want to prove to yourself every day that you can, so you can build up a track record for change.

Okay, so let's consider that along the way to the loss of 10 kilos (the ultimate goal), you want to cut back your refined sugar intake, introduce more fresh food into your daily diet, and do some more exercise. There are many ways you can do all of those things so what's most important is that you do WHAT FEELS RIGHT FOR YOU.

Let's say then that you have decided to do those three things. They now become three mini-goals, which are part of the larger goal of losing 10 kilos. Even by introducing them, you can see that your goal becomes a little more tangible.

Now that you have set these mini-goals, you can find ways to contribute to each of them. For example, have one less sugar in your coffee (or one less coffee per day); take some cut up fruit and veges for an afternoon snack (get creative and use veges that you will enjoy eating - carrots or sweet corn can be a nice treat); go for a 10 minute walk at lunch time.

On the surface of it, these things don't appear to be focused on your grand vision of losing 10 kilos. But when they become part of your daily intentions, of course they are! At the end of every day, ask yourself

"What did I do to contribute to my weight loss goal today?"

When you do this consistently, you will start to notice more and more things you did to contribute to your goal. Consequently you will start to feel better and better about yourself, and losing weight will become less of a chore.

Most people don't think like this, because when we think of weight loss it is usually all or nothing. But you've probably tried that before and you know that it doesn't work. So what have you got to lose? You are not copping out. You are simply recognizing that this no longer has to be difficult. No longer do you have to DENY yourself. In fact, to make the change that is sustainable, you MUST continue to GIVE to yourself. If you do not, you will feel like something is missing, and you'll look to replace it with a quick fix.

When you start to approach your health goals in this way I guarantee you that you will see change. Because you are making yourself accountable every day.

So let's just revise the three steps to changing your food habits:

1. Review your beliefs about food, your body and nourishment.
2. Understand what will be available to you when you make new choices around food
3. Take small, consistent steps around your desired choices

Remember, taking small consistent steps is THE MOST CRUCIAL step, because you are placing daily awareness around these new choices. When you do this every day, you begin to understand your own power to make yourself accountable for a new way of living.

When you do it that way you will create balance and harmony in your body, not trauma and chaos. And you will ENJOY THE PROCESS.

Kirsty Greenshields is a passionate partner, mum and business owner. She is the founder of Create Perfect Health, dedicated to empowering you to let go of unhealthy habits and create balance and harmony in your life. www.createperfecthealthnow.com