GAZELLE MAGAZINE Volume 2, Issue 1 | Page 16

BEAUTY & GLAM SMALL CHANGES GO A LONG WAY Start slow for longer-lasting results By Rhonda Shrum Although the business of cosmetic surgery is to help people feel more positive about themselves, surgery is not the only way to raise self-esteem. Taking care of yourself is an important aspect of feeling and looking your best, and our doctors at St. Louis Cosmetic Surgery always encourage patients to lead a healthy lifestyle in order to receive and maintain the best results. Eating right is one of the best ways to feel great and keep those fabulous surgical outcomes, but it is often easier said than done. Many of us can relate to the resolution maker who vows to get healthy and start eating right. Typically, this means going on some sort of restrictive diet – maybe a meal plan that’s all over the news or Facebook – and going full steam ahead for a few weeks before the inevitable burn-out sets in. Changing habits is never easy, but there are ways to soften the blow. Make a choice to change bad habits for the long term. The word “diet” sends shivers up the spine of many people, and for good reason. It’s become synonymous with failure, and who wants to be set up to fail? Instead, focus on implementing small changes into your daily routine over the long term. Phase out diet soda, for example, and then when you’re comfortable with that, switch from whole milk to skim. Smaller changes over a longer period of time won’t be as shocking to your routine and you’ll be more likely to keep them up. 16 Rhonda Shrum is the marketing director at St. Louis Cosmetic Surgery. You can read her blog at stlcosmeticsurgery.com.