When it comes to being successful in our health journey, seeing others' successes can play a huge role in how we learn to be successful ourselves. One researcher suggests, “Most human behavior is learned by observation through modeling.” Simply put, we learn how to perform certain skills and behaviors by watching others. This is called a vicarious experience. We learn to succeed by watching others succeed and doing what they did!

Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Wellness Coaches work with hundreds of Mississippians to help them reach health-related goals. We have compiled a list of success tips, based on their results. You'll notice, those who focused on emotional health and learned to connect with their motivators achieved the most success. For Part I of our fitness tips, we will focus on your health goals, self-reflection, data collection and forming a fitness plan.

Read part II

Goal: Set aside 15 minutes, 3 times this week, and write down your answers to these questions:

• What am I ready & willing to do to improve my health, now? (Be specific)
• Why is this important to me?
• What can I do to remind myself why I started?

Goal: Journal 15 minutes a day, make a gratitude list, etc.

Goal: Use a small notebook as a food journal or a fitness app like MyFitness Pal, Runkeeper or Lose it! to track your progress and gather data from your day.

Goal 1: Review your data from last week, and write down what you learn through looking at what influenced your good choices. For example, notice who you were with, what you did to prepare, where you were and how you were feeling.

Goal 2: Enter your plan into the tracking app, or write down your plan for the following week. If you are using an app to track your food choices, enter what you plan to eat prior to the meal. This is very helpful when eating out.

What’s the key to fitness success? This collection of tips and goals may be a good starting point, but it’s certainly not an exhaustive list. Hopefully we’ve given you some food for thought. Ultimately, only you can discover what will work for you in the long run. Try some of these ideas, tweak them or invent some of your own. Experiment with enjoyable ways to connect with what motivates you while satisfying your emotional/mental health and physical health will likely follow.

Here are some additional resources to help with your journey:

• Quiz: Identify Your Stage of Change
• Let's Go Walkin' Upcoming Events
• Find a Zumba Class
• Sign up for a free Tracking App