Changing for Good: A Revolutionary Six-Stage Program for Overcoming Bad Habits and Moving Your Life Positively Forward

Unlike most self-help books out there, this one is actually based on research for a change. Based on this Phd's work on how people change, this guy has uncovered the different, predictable stages of change that people go through when they attempt to get themselves to change. Although the stages are fairly predictable, not everybody goes through them in the exact same order as some people skip various stages on their way to changing their behaviour. A great book all-in-all, it's definitely worth a look. Also liked The Sixty-Second Motivator.

I'm only halfway thru and it's helped already-written for 'the regular guy'-you don't need any other book-this is it!

I wrote a review of this book a number of months ago. It's now been a year of freedom from bulimia, and I really owe it to the advice in this book. The main thing I'd like to thank Dr. Prochaska for is his hammering home that an addiction is a "Big Deal", that changing it will involve restructuring one's life, giving up behaviors, substituting new ones, etc. And that it "never gets any easier." The worst problem in tackling an addiction is the craving-induced belief that "tomorrow it won't be so hard." I found the first two months to be excruciating, but, following the plan of substitute behaviors I had listed for myself, I was able to make it. I was constantly telling myself "it's NOT going to be easier tomorrow." Dr. Prochaska's emphasis on planning one's recovery is invaluable. And I found his emphasis on exercise to be a primary key. Those endorphins from exercising WILL be necessary! Once again, thanks to Dr.P!!

Excellent advice. Helped me break a 20+ year habit of bulimia, for which I had tried countless remedies. The most important things I learned were how to identify some of the self-generated "myths" I was unconsciously buying into....such as "someday it will be easier." His emphasis on exercise has turned out to be another key to success. And Prochaska's book helped me organize former failed attempts into a way of learning from my mistakes. GREAT BOOK! Thanks, Mr. Prochaska!

This easily explains why some people can stop behaviors, while others cannot. I have worked with criminal offenders for over 10 years and have begun incorportating the step by step techniques described in this book to all of our programming for offenders. It also helped me to begin something that I have wanted to do, but always found excuses to avoid. The book is simple to read, with personal stories to illustrate each point. Whether you would like to quit smoking, drinking, or want to start an excercise program, you must read this book. Understanding the change process will help you move to a point where doing "something different" becomes possible.