Have you ever told yourself that getting and staying healthy is just too much hard work? If you have then you are not alone. Sometimes it does just seem too hard. What I have realized over the years though is that health is not hard all of the time, it's just some of the time and putting strategies into to cope with these difficult times can produce wonderful results. Let me explain more.

These difficult times or "health moments" as I like to call them are times where the decision that are about to make tends to have a disproportionately large impact on your health. Choosing wisely at this "health moment" is one of the keys to mastering just about every level of your wellbeing. Here is an example of a "health moment" - most people love their early morning walks but so many of us struggle to make it a regular part of our life. However it is not the walk that is difficult it is getting out of bed. In this case choosing whether or not to hit the snooze alarm is a "health moment" that depending on your decision can have far reaching consequences for your health (dress size) and wellbeing.

Setting up mechanisms and support systems to encourage your desired behaviour is the key to surviving the "health moment". In the example above the best thing that you could do for your health (and your waistline) may be to put the alarm on the other side of the bedroom - forcing you to get out of bed in the morning and not being tempted to hit that ever so seductive snooze button.

These health moments appear in many different ways for each of us. Perhaps you have noticed that things really turn pear shaped for you when you meet your girlfriends out for mid morning coffee, it is not the coffee that is the problem it is the double choc mud cake that accompanies it. Perhaps instead of meeting your girlfriends for a coffee you could get together for a walk or maybe try meeting at the the new health food cafe down the road.(where the cakes are less tempting).

Another common "health moment" occurs when we go food shopping. The battle for healthy eating is won at the supermarket not your cupboards. If you buy good food then you eat good food, it is as simple as that. When you realize the enormity of this then how you shop becomes increasingly important - a "health moment". Making sure that you are not hungry when you shop, that you have a list of what foods you want to purchase (and sticking to that list) and that you keep away from the alluring chocolate and lolly isle's are all keys to surviving the supermarket.

As you are probably beginning to realize identifying and then mastering these "health moments" are really what we need to master our own health or any behaviour change for that matter. Take some time to identify your "health moments" and then think about how your could influence your behaviours to support your desired outcome. Remember health doesn't have to be difficult.

Dr Angus Pyke is the founder and director of What Actually Works - an online forum providing simple, proven and effective strategies for people to live a happier and healthier life. Angus is a sort after speaker and health coach to leaders of industry and Olympic gold medalists. His humor, compassion and simple message has helped to empower thousands to make change and live a more passionate, healthy and fulfilling life.  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it www.whatactuallyworks.com.au www.facebook.com/whatactuallyworks