By: Joseph Parise, Guest Writer

What up health conscious surfers of the streets? If you are visiting Raw Beets then you are down with a life of good eats that will get your body proper. Some of you who are new to the veggie kingdom may want to work up to the raw vegan-ness, but wonder how to make such a big change in your life work. Let's be honest: everyone has something about themselves that they want to change. Making change happen can be a tough act, one full of pitfalls and confusion. However, with a little work and the right attitude, even the most difficult tasks can be taken on!

There was a time when I was severely obese to the point of being diagnosed pre-diabetic. However, with effort, planning, and attitude I was able to take hold of the situation and turn the heavy tide. Two years of losses and I've gone from 300 pounds to a continually shrinking 215. Weight is one issue, and you and I are different people, but we are flesh and blood and thus have some things in common. It is my belief that if you put some of the following ideas into your headspace, you can make that beat in your head bang like an 808 and your efforts will rock the block. Now let me kick down some knowledge so you can hit the streets of change running:

- Gauge Your Intentions and View Them Realistically

It's all good to want to change something about your life, but if you aren't sure how and why you want to make the changes, the situation can get out of hand before you even get started. When thinking about change, it is good to ground yourself in the effort and think about why it is that you want to go through this process. If you want to change your eating habits, what are your reasons for doing so? There are many possible answers to that question, such as personal health and world outlook, but also think of needs that may be overlooked without some introspection. Then, when you have in mind why you want to change, think about how realistic your goals are and how long it will take to make them happen. When you know what you want and why you want it, figuring out how to make it happen becomes easier.

- Plan Your Change Ahead

Once you've thought about why you want to make a change, think about how it can best be done. Change can begin spur-of-the-moment, but acts like that are like walking into a dark alley you've never been down: dangerous. If you know the possibilities of what you may struggle with ahead of time, you will be more prepared to deal with problems should they arise. Planning ahead allows you to take stock of possible issues and better realize what must be done and how to accomplish it. Try to set a few realistic goals for yourself and a timeframe by which you would like to achieve them. These goals should not be so rigid as to be intimidating, but simple steps over a gradual period that allows broader change to coincide with your continued daily activity. An example for healthier living might be small steps of cutting certain foods out of a diet or calculating amounts of exercise per day that are achievable.

- Reward Yourself For Triumphs, Don't Punish Yourself For Mistakes

Change can be a struggle, so when you accomplish a goal, it is good to give yourself a reward so that your mind knows that you're on the right track. When you achieve something towards your goal, reward yourself in a small but meaningful way so that there is positive motivation in your favor. You could treat yourself to an object of desire such as a purchase or movie, or even just think about the progress you've made in a positive light. In the same sense, mistakes and setbacks are not the end of the world. An analogy to strengthen nerves in times of crisis is that whatever doesn't kill you can make you stronger. If you slip up on something related to your change, don't punish yourself and make it feel like change is insurmountable. Instead try looking at your mistake and seeing how you can learn from it so that it is less likely to happen again and then continue on with positivity in mind.

- Don't Obsess Over The Big Picture

There are many facets to life that cannot be ignored, such as what is needed to survive. These are things that should not be neglected but rather accommodated. Make time to work on your changes, and gradually it will become easier to integrate them into your daily life. Eventually the goal is to make these changes just another part of your life and not something that has to be thought about, but if they interfere with your life, consider that you are trying to progress too quickly and that everything takes time, with shortcuts being a dangerous and not necessarily advantageous idea.

To wrap this up tight with a bow; we all want to change things about ourselves and that is a healthy activity and mindset. If you want to play the game, don't let the game play you. Be active in body and mind. Think things through and you'll be up and about with the clout you need to push things forward... aw yeah!

Joseph Parise is a writer and aspiring artist. By age 27 he was given a pre-diabetic diagnosis and weighed 295 lbs, but managed to trim the fat with diet and exercise to his current 30 year old weight of 210lbs. He is currently in the process of developing a media review website, has a Bachelors Degree in Creative Writing from San Francisco State University and is planning a return to formal education.