It needs to be complemented by healthy dietary choices along with many other healthy lifestyle practices. We believe one of the great challenges for health and wellness providers is getting the desired results for their clients when certain self-defeating behaviours interfere with the health plans. These can be activities such as smoking, unhealthy diet, lack of movement, or a combination of other lifestyle factors. 

This is where the team of BrainFit Resorts can support you.

Our team has designed the Behaviour-Change Support Program to aid the implementation of your health plans with the science of behaviour change.

In our experience, some clients can prove challenging due to their seemingly uncooperative attitude, frequent cancellations, and coming up with excuses on a regular basis for not achieving their desired goals. Yet, in reality the issue is that these clients need a more targeted support approach where they are helped in developing specific skills they require to succeed in implementing the desired changes. 

The Behaviour-Change Support Program can help these clients by first identifying the behavioural patterns that are causing such problems, and introducing robust support systems that will help them make sustainable changes to their daily living. 

Promoting a healthier living is a task easier said than done, but the Behaviour-Change Support Program has a team of doctors and specialists who have a proven track record with helping your clients shift challenging and potentially unhealthy habits. 

The personalised solutions we employ are science-based and results-oriented, and our custom approach to each client creates a unique experience. 

Custom behavioural change strategies that are adapted for each client helps them achieve their prescribed goals and develop lifestyle habits that are health-enhancing and sustainable.

The Behaviour-Change Support Program is currently offering a 21 days free trial program so you and your clients can experience our expertise and capabilities, to uncover if we could be the client solution you’ve been looking for. If you want your clients to achieve improved health and make lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking, eating healthy, losing weight or just enhancing their physical activities, then the Behaviour-Change Support Program at BrainFit Resorts is the perfect program.

How does the program work?

• We work with your client as a support team to apply your prescribed wellness plan.
• We apply the latest research into habit formation and behaviour change.
• We use a combination of strategies: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment therapy, clinical hypnosis and mindfulness, delivered remotely via mobile apps, so clients can be supported in their native environments.
• We apply these strategies to achieve your short- and long-term health goals and support your customers with an individualised plan that fits their readiness stage and needs.
• We provide your clients with weekly and daily support with face to face sessions and text messages.
• We will send you a progress report during and at the completion of the program.

What are the benefits to you?

The benefits to healthcare providers include:

• You will increase client satisfaction and the effectiveness of your health care plans.
• You will have the benefits of a support service for your more challenging cases completely for free.
• You will have the opportunity to add your webpage link to our Behavioural Support webpage when you refer just three clients. 

Interested? Contact our Chief Clinical Psychologist, Dr Susanna Zito, at susanna@brainfitresorts.com for more information and to request a client referral form.

1. Individual risk factors assessment
2. Nutrition, supplements and brain-healthy diet
3. Physical activity and exercise
4. Stress reduction and management
5. Sleep health
6. Memory and information load management
7. Cognitive stimulation and training
8. Social engagement
9. Innovative cognitive enhancers/stimulants

Read also:

The Science Behind Dementia Prevention

5 Steps To Preventing Alzheimer’s Disease

I said to myself, “This is it. No chocolate for 1 month.”

I’d start with a small goal that shouldn’t be too hard to achieve.

After all, it would only be for 1 month.

The Challenge:

Last Monday morning, not quite 1 week into my “choc-free” diet, I was preparing myself to work at my desk and I started to feel this niggling sensation…

A chocolate craving.

A strong desire for “just one piece”.

I battled with the thought for a short while, and then I decided “I should probably just eat it so that it stops bugging me”.

So, my plan of chocolate free days, failed in its first week.

Thankfully there is always tomorrow.

But I couldn’t help thinking… Where did I do wrong?

How will tomorrow be handled differently?

Creating and Removing Old Habits:

Introducing a new and healthy habit or stopping a bad one is not such a simple task.

It’s why so many of us can struggle to make healthy changes.

First of all, let’s think of what makes a habit.

A habit is a routine behavior.

An act that occurs on a regular basis almost without thinking.

It is usually triggered by a cue in your environment.

Sitting down in front of the computer, time of day, location, a specific feeling or thought, or as a result of a sequence of behaviors.

After the trigger, the behavior is moved into action and usually, it is followed by a sense of reward.

This is why breaking some habits is really hard…

Because in most cases, we like our habits.

They’re familiar, and familiarity gives comfort.

However, like my chocolate cravings, some of these habits can actually be really bad for us.

So bad, that they can put in jeopardy our health, relationships, lifestyles, and even careers.

How To Stop A Bad Habit Permanently:

Recognizing these unhealthy habits and having the desire to change is a starting point, but overcoming the hurdle to replace old habits with new ones, can be challenging.

So, here are some very simple tips to keep in mind when wanting to introduce a new and healthy behavior or change an old not so good one.

Research shows that one of the best predictors of engaging behavioral changes in people is whether the changes are driven by important personal values.

Step 1: Asking yourself why do you want to make this change?

What matters to you and how will these changes help you get closer to that belief or value?

Identifying the underlying values is very important.

Do you want to make changes because it matters to you to feel healthy and vibrant?

Or do you love to travel and taking good care of your body matters for your travel adventures?

Referring back to my chocolate example, what I did not do, was clarify to myself WHY I want to press pause on daily chocolate eating.

I was eating so much chocolate, and not eating healthy meals, which was making me grumpy and not so pleasant to be around.

I realized that eating healthy is important because of the impact food has on my mood.

For me, improving my diet affects my mood and in turn my relationships with others.

And this matters more to me than chocolate.

This became my driving force.

Whatever your driving force to the new behavior is, make sure you have it clear in your mind and hold it gently as a reminder of why this behavior is important.

Let it keep you on track at times in which you feel a bit wobbly (as there will be those times).

Step 2: Adjusting your environment.

Do you want to eliminate sugary treats?

Move them to the back of the cupboard and replace them with healthier options which are in your line of sight.

Even better, get rid of them altogether!

Do you want to exercise more?

Have your exercise gear easily accessible and ready to use.

The point is, make sure the way your environment is set up will support you rather than triggering you into old behaviors.

Strategize to remove or eliminate anything that could get you off your track.

Strategize to add anything that will keep you on track.

Step 3: Know YOUR triggers

This applies to both stopping a bad habit or starting a good one in a slightly different way.

For me, sitting down to work in front of the computer was a trigger, as I had gotten into the habit of starting work, and reaching over for my trusted bar of chocolatey goodness.

So the moment I sat down in front of the computer, my body knew automatically what was coming.

And when I didn’t do what was expected, it was really hard not to give in.

My next step?  I changed my environment so that the trigger was removed.

I started taking my computer to another workspace, different room, different desk, a different chair where I have a fresh coconut juice as a treat.

You need to be aware of what your environmental triggers are; and make changes accordingly.

This could mean changing the order you do things or rearranging the furniture in your house to prevent a trigger from activating an old habit.

Conclusion:

So, if you want to break a bad habit, be aware of your triggers and alter your environment as best as you can.

If you want to start a new habit, create new triggers to help you fall into the new regular behavior.

Make sure the new triggers link in with preexisting habits as this will make it easier.

Like for example, flossing after you brush your teeth or going for a walk just after you return home from work.

If you link the habit to something that already happens regularly you will have a regular trigger.

Action Steps In The Moment:

Remember these key questions to ask yourself when you feel the need to break those old unhealthy habits.

• Why is this change important?
• How can I change my environment to make it super easy to succeed?
• What are my triggers?
• How can I use new triggers to help me succeed?

We hope these tips provide you with some insights and assistance to living your most brain healthy life.

Why not leave a comment below and tell us, what habits are you going to change?

If you enjoyed reading this blog, and want to see more of our articles relating to changing behaviors, check out some of our other feature articles and videos by clicking on the links below:

• How To Move Past Thoughts Of Negativity – Blog
• How Your Mindset Can Impact Your Everyday Life – Blog
• Why Mindfulness Self Compassion Is Good For A Change – Blog
• Is Your Mind Getting In The Way Of Your Life? – Video
• 3 Ways To Handle Intense Emotions Healthily – Video

Be sure to hit the SUBSCRIBE button below so we can send you new feature articles and videos just like this one, as we release them.

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If you would like us to feature a particular topic or interest in one of our upcoming articles or videos, leave a comment below with the details or alternatively, send us an email to info@brainfitresorts.com.

We’d love to hear what’s on your mind.

If you know someone who may benefit from this article or any of our other features, please SHARE this article with them using the icons below, and help us to better enrich the lives of those who need it.

Until next time… Live Strong. Live Well. Live BrainFit.

More and more research is pointing to the fact that physical activity and lifestyle choices have more to do with preventing Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and other forms of Dementia – once thought to be a normal part of aging – than pure genetics.

So, if you had a parent, grandparent or sibling with AD it doesn’t mean you have to follow the same path.

What You Need To Know

Statistics gathered from extensive research do point toward a higher risk of developing AD if you had a close relative with AD – as much as 50%, but that has less to do with genes and more to do with following their lifestyle patterns.

If for example, your parents were smokers who rarely exercised, you may have developed some of the same destructive habits.

What can you do to break the cycle and prevent AD?
Take action, and take control TODAY.

Even if you are in your 60s and 70s, you can reverse some of the damage done to your brain through poor diet, inactivity, or damaging lifestyle choices.

Scientists have discovered very recently that the brain has the ability to repair cells and neurotransmitters and improve cognitive function and memory.

Start with these 5 Simple Steps:

1. Eat Right.

It seems so simple, yet too many people just don’t get enough of the mind preserving antioxidants found in fresh fruits and vegetables.

A well-balanced diet, free of dairy products and using low-fat sources of protein will protect both heart and mind.

2. Supplement where necessary.

Many diets lack the nutrients proven to promote brain health.

These include sources of essential fatty acids found in fish and specific herbs and minerals that can enhance cognitive function.

3. Exercise.

Originally it was thought that exercise increases blood flow and oxygen to the brain cells.

This is still true, but a report prepared for the National Institutes of Health states that exercise can also stimulate the production growth factors, which are molecules produced by the body to repair and maintain nerves.

4. Lower Your Cholesterol.

Many people with early dementia or AD symptoms may have actually experienced small strokes that damaged the brain’s neurotransmitters.

By keeping cholesterol levels in check, the arteries are free and clear of plaque that can cause a stroke.

5. Exercise Your Mind.

Keeping up with current events, working puzzles each day, learning and memorizing new information all work to keeping the mind strong and alert.

It is normal for people to sometimes forget a name or date, but the more practice recalling such information the greater the brain’s ability to do this throughout old age.

In the case of mental challenges, the more you do the more you can push back the clock on cognitive decline.

Final Thoughts

Five easy steps, when you think about it, can do much to make aging an event to celebrate instead of dread.

With age there comes experience and wisdom, and we should all do whatever is within our power to be able to pass that on to the next generation.

Think you might need a hand in creating your ideal brain-healthy lifestyle?

You’re not alone. In fact, most of the people who engage with our articles and posts tell us the hardest thing about a plan to prevent diseases like Alzheimer’s and Dementia, is getting started, and knowing what works and doesn’t work.

We created our ProtectMyBrain Program to give people the tools and strategies they need to identify their individual risks and tailor a personalized plan to prevent these diseases from ever becoming an issue.

To find out if our ProtectMyBrain Program might be right for you, click the link below.

ProtectMyBrain Dementia Prevention Program

We hope these tips provide you with some insights and assistance to living your most brain healthy life.

If you enjoyed reading this piece, and want to see more of our works relating to prevention and brain-healthy lifestyle, check out the links to some of our other articles below:

• Healthy Bodies Make Healthy Minds – Article
• How Iron and B Vitamins Improve Brain Activity – Article
• Can Vitamin C and E Help Prevent Dementia? – Article
• Cognitive Decline: Can It Be Prevented? – Video
• Memory Loss: Is It Normal Or Abnormal? – Video

Be sure to hit the SUBSCRIBE button below so we can send you new feature articles and videos just like this one, as we release them.

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If you would like us to feature a particular topic or interest in one of our upcoming articles or videos, leave a comment below with the details or alternatively, send us an email to info@brainfitresorts.com.

We’d love to hear what’s on your mind.

Finally, if you know someone who may benefit from this article or any of our other features, please SHARE this article with them using the icons below, and help us to better enrich the lives of those who need it.

Until next time… Live Strong. Live Well. Live BrainFit.

As such, more and more people are becoming concerned about whether or not the disease can be inherited, or passed down through genetics.

In reality, the chance of Dementia being purely genetic is actually very small.

The link between Genetics and Dementia

Only in certain rare types of Dementia (Frontotemporal Dementia, FTD), typically appearing at an early age (30’s-40’s), do we find an abnormal gene that can be passed from a parent to child.

While inheriting the disease directly is rare, genes are thought to play some role in other types of Dementia.

Genes can have multiple forms or ‘variants’, which when combined with lifestyle and environment, can influence our chances of developing a disease.

Our genetic variants also play a role in determining how healthy we are in other ways, such as our cardiovascular health.

This means that they indirectly raise or lower our chances of developing Dementia.

Alzheimer’s Disease or Dementia?

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of Dementia and the genetics of Alzheimer’s are the best understood of all the common Dementias.

The vast majority of people with Alzheimer’s disease do not inherit it from a parent as a single-gene mutation.

Instead, the inheritance follows a more complex pattern.

The disease might skip a generation, affect people on both sides of the family, appear seemingly from nowhere, or not be passed on at all.

More than 20 gene variants (or regions within the DNA) have now been identified in AD patients, which to varying degrees, affect the chances of a person developing Alzheimer’s disease.

The effects of these genes are subtle.

Different variants act to slightly increase or decrease the risk of a person developing AD but do not directly cause it.

These variants or ‘risk genes’ interact with each other and with other factors, such as age and lifestyle, to influence someone’s overall risk of getting the disease.

The gene with the greatest known effect on the risk of developing late-onset Alzheimer’s disease is called apolipoprotein E (APOE).

Approximately one-quarter of the general population inherits a gene variant (APOE e4), increasing their lifetime risk of developing AD by a little over two times.

A small percentage of the population (2%), receives a double dose of this gene variant from both parents, increasing their risk by three to five times, however, they are still not guaranteed to develop Alzheimer’s.

Interestingly, one variant of the gene (APOE e2) is associated with a lower risk of developing the disease and is found in 11% of the population.

So, what does it all mean?

In summary, while genes are very important in building and maintaining our bodies, environment and lifestyle are also involved in a person’s physical characteristics, as well as their chances of developing a particular disease.

A predisposition to the disease can depend on whether we smoke, exercise, have a healthy diet and so on, as well as the genes we were born with and our age.

This matters because people tend to think of the effects of our genes as inevitable or completely fixed, but in most cases, this is simply not true.

How Can We Help Prevent Dementia or Alzheimer’s Disease?

At BrainFit Resorts, we are not attempting to diagnose Dementia or determine your genetics, this can be done by your physician.

Our role is to assess your risk of developing Dementia or a related disease, based on modifiable risk factors.

We focus on what you CAN control, that is to say, lifestyle choices that serve to maintain cognitive skills and prevent cognitive decline and Dementia.

No matter your genetic makeup, we will teach you how to profoundly change your quality of living, both in the present and as you ease into in what can be the best years of your life.

We hope this article provides you with some insights and assistance to living your most brain healthy life.

If you want to see more of our articles relating to dementia and ways to prevent it, check out the links to some of our other articles and videos below:

• How Iron and B Vitamins Improve Brain Activity – Article
• Can Vitamin C and E Help Prevent Dementia? – Article
• Memory Loss: Is It Normal Or Abnormal? – Video
• Cognitive Decline: Can It Be Prevented? – Video

Be sure to hit the SUBSCRIBE button below so we can send you new feature articles and videos just like this one, as we release them.

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If you would like us to feature a particular topic or interest in one of our upcoming articles or videos, leave a comment below with the details or alternatively, send us an email to info@brainfitresorts.com.

We’d love to hear what’s on your mind.

Finally, if you know someone who may benefit from this article or any of our other features, please SHARE this article with them using the icons below, and help us to better enrich the lives of those who need it.

Until next time… Live Strong. Live Well. Live BrainFit.