A Different Approach to New Year’s Resolutions

Have you ever heard the definition of insanity?  One way to explain it is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

This is how I feel about New Year’s Resolutions.

Don’t get me wrong, I love goal setting, vision boards and forward thinking but when it comes to health and losing weight I think resolutions that focus solely on weight loss are the wrong approach.  

According to Forbes, the most common New Year’s Resolution set last year was to lose weight. The problem is that statistics show that across all types of resolutions, only about 8% of people will achieve their goal.

Fundamentally we have no control about how much weight our body is willing to lose.  Unfortunately, people are always concentrating on the numbers.  What we do have control over are the action steps we are willing to take!

After spending a decade helping people to lose weight you start to observe and see certain trends, and one of those is that with respect to weight, your will power always run out.

Most of the time when people embark on a weight loss resolution they set themselves up on a plan that is not attainable or sustainable. Essentially they bite off more than they can chew. The plan could involve restricting foods, calories or exercising like crazy.  The key to a successful and sustainable program is to feel well – that means energy is great and hunger and cravings are low. The only way I have successfully seen people maintain on a program is if they feel better, and use weight as a great byproduct of living a more balanced life.

How to Set a Better Resolution:

• Take numbers out of the equation. Try a different approach and avoid the urge to set a goal such as ‘I am going to lose 10lbs.’  Instead, set a resolution to eat breakfast every morning, stop snacking at night, only eat desserts once a week, drink 4 glasses of wine per week or go to an exercise class 3 times per week. These are all things that are in your control.

• If you are serious about changing your health, find someone to help you set up a sustainable program

• Brainstorm about the aspect of your health that you would like changed the most – as this will be your biggest motivator – and get specific! Examples include fewer headaches, better energy, reduce my belly weight, better sleep, less anxiety, more mental clarity or focus, better digestion, etc.

• You need someone to stay accountable to – this could be your healthcare practitioner, personal trainer or a friend that is going to drag you to the gym instead of Starbucks. Will power tends to wane at the 6 week mark, so having someone in your corner to motivate and help you through this tough time is key

• Take Action!

One of the things that I do love about New Year’s Resolutions is that they are a call to action, and get us thinking about setting goals. Studies show that people who do set goals are way more likely to achieve them.

In terms of taking action, one of the things that I try to encourage everyone to do at this time of year is a 2 week reset in January. Like it or not, we can get into some bad habits over the holiday season and regardless of your weight, your health can pay the price. The 2 week reset will help to reset good habits that can propel you forward to leading this vibrant and balanced life.

Every January, cut out the following foods for 2 weeks:

• Sugar
• Alcohol
• Processed foods

If this is not your first day at the rodeo and you have done this with me before, then I would recommend getting a little more aggressive with yourself and doing a mini cleanse. You can consider doing something like the Ultra Clear Change kit. They will be on sale this month and they come with program guides and recipes to kick start your health.

Read more about the kit by CLICKING HERE.
Regardless of what you do, I encourage you to find your balance and sustainability in 2017. We are always here to help and would love to be a part of your wellness journey!