Cholesterol Smart on a budget
Heart-healthy eating can be affordable with a little planning and practical tips to guide you.
Congratulations on reaching Step 5! Changing long-term diet and lifestyle habits takes real courage and commitment. Whether you’ve made small improvements or taken big strides, take a moment to recognise how far you’ve come. Every step forward is something to be proud of.
Step 5 is about celebrating your progress, rewarding yourself, and staying motivated for the road ahead.
It’s also a chance to reflect, reassess, and set new goals to keep building on your progress.
Make it a habit to revisit this step every three to four weeks.
Use it as a check-in to adjust your approach and plan your next steps.
Four simple steps to help you stay on track
1. Celebrate your success
Take time to reward yourself for the changes you’ve made, no matter how small. Treat yourself to something special – check out our reward ideas. Celebrating your efforts is key to staying motivated.
Creative ways to mark your achievements
2. Reflect and re-motivate
- Revisit Step 1: Get in the zone. Review your completed activity sheet and remind yourself of your ‘Why’ – the reasons you started making these changes. Are they still meaningful, or do they need updating to keep you inspired?
- Think about the past three to four weeks. Did you face any unexpected challenges? Write these down, along with how you overcame them or how you might handle them differently next time. This will help you feel more confident and prepared for the future.
3. Assess your progress
Update your diet quiz and lifestyle results to see how far you’ve come. Look back at the improvements you focused on and, if you’ve achieved them, tick them off and celebrate! Recognise the effort it’s taken to make these long-term changes.
4. Re-set your smart goals
Review your diet and lifestyle results for any areas you can still improve. Choose one to two new goals to focus on over the next three to four weeks.
To help you set new goals, re-visit Step 3: Setting your smart goals
Download a new 'Keep track of your goals' activity sheet and write down your next chosen improvements, along with the specific actions you’ll take to achieve them.
Need help or inspiration?
Visit Step 4 for practical tips, recipes, and ideas tailored to help you achieve your goals.
If you’ve found it tough, that’s OK!
Making lasting changes isn’t easy, and sticking with it shows incredible resilience. Even if things haven’t gone to plan, take pride in the fact that you’re still here and trying – that’s a huge achievement in itself.
Celebrate your determination, reward yourself for your efforts, and use this step to reset and refocus.
Explore the earlier Cholesterol Smart steps
