Ditch Resolutions and Diets!

The first days of a new year! You have a clean page on the calendar and 12 months ahead of you. Did you make any New Year’s resolutions? Here we are five days into 2016 … are you still on track with them?

New Year’s resolutions seem to carry a connotation of short-term failure with them. I often hear people joking about the resolution that lasted mere days – or hours. Why is that? I have a few theories:

Most resolutions are too vague. “I need to lose weight” or “I need to exercise more” are so broad a target that it would seem you should be able to hit it … but where do you start? A more effective approach would be to define the approach and the motivation behind the outcome. You’ve heard of S.M.A.R.T. goals, right?

Do you really want the outcome? Your resolution may state an outcome that sounds good, yet all too often we aren’t completely sold on it. Your mindset can sabotage your success based on subconscious beliefs that were established in your past. You may need to focus first on reprogramming those beliefs – shifting your mindset – before you make progress … but that in itself will be valuable progress!

Let’s face it. We don’t have to make a New Year’s resolution to play more, or to eat more chocolate, do we? These things come far more easily to us!

When you want to make an important change in your life, break it down into smaller steps and paint a vivid picture for yourself of the benefits you will gain with the change. Knowing your WHY, and keeping it before you daily, will help you press through the times you feel bogged down.

As my New Year’s gift, I would like to release you from dieting to lose weight. WHAT?!? Goes against the grain, doesn’t it? But do diets really accomplish long-term benefits? Sure, you may lose weight and look great … for a while. And if you are like the majority of people I have talked to, the weight will creep back on.

Why is that? Because we think of a diet as something we do for a defined period of time. When that time ends, what do we do? You said it – we go right back to the way we were eating before the diet, which caused the weight gain in the first place!

I have a confession to make. This health coach gained a couple pounds over the holidays that I want to release.

But I’m not going on a diet! Instead, I’m going to edit my approach to reclaim my healthier self, and I encourage you to edit your choices, too. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

~ Choose fruit in place of that sweet dessert or snack. There’s something to be said for “an apple a day.”
~ Plan for more sleep! Do you know that a lack of sleep can cause you to gain weight, too?
~ Drink water … the real stuff. If you don’t like it, try infused water that is flavored with fruit or vegetables.

I will be sharing a lot more on editing your approach to eating in the coming year. Meanwhile, choose one simple edit to make on the path to Pursue Wellness. Reply to this e-mail and tell me what you have chosen.

Here’s to your health!