A seminar on how to change your health and habits — whether through eating more healthily or giving up smoking — will take place tonight at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute.

The “Change your mind—.Change your future!” seminar is being hosted by The Argus Group and presented by international health educator, Lou Ryan, who is the founder and CEO of Selfhelpworks, a programme that promises permanent solutions to problems caused by weight gain, alcohol use, stress and smoking.

The programme attempts to identify and address the emotional root causes of unhealthy lifestyle choices.

The motivational seminar will focus on breaking through the mental obstacles standing in the way of a person’s health and happiness.

“Over the past 20 years, I’ve seen how achieving optimal health and control of mental obstacles are intricately connected,” said Mr. Ryan.

“Understanding why a person wants and thinks they need a sugary snack, a cigarette, or a couple of drinks at the end of the day, is the first step to permanently breaking unhealthy habits and moving towards a healthier life.

“I believe that by changing the way you think, you’ll be ready to change your life.”

Selfhelpworks is available to all persons enrolled in the Argus Wellness Programme and uses “structural cognitive training” to help people develop a rational, rather than an emotional response to triggers that affect behaviour, thus improving their health over the long-term.

The web-based programme provides interactive presentations, tailored workbooks, personalised feedback and a live call-in talk show with Mr. Ryan.

Gerald Simons, president & CEO of the Argus Group, said he hoped many people would attend tonight’s seminar.

“We hope that the general public will take advantage of the opportunity to attend Lou Ryan’s free seminar,” he said. “We expect it to be an informative and inspiring evening.”

“We want to help people move away from contemplation and into action,” added Catherine Burns, manager of the Argus Wellness Programme.

[box] The seminar, which is open and free to the general public, begins at 7 p.m.