Get A Jump On Your Health and Wellness New Year’s Resolutions

Special holiday treats can be hard to resist. You are faced with the temptation to indulge in them no matter where you are at. Whether it’s grandma’s peach cobbler, your neighbor’s special fudge or the many holiday treats at the local bakery or market, saying “no” is hard to do. It is so easy to eat them now and make resolutions to control your diet after the new year. However, sticking to your New Year’s resolutions is generally painful and easier said than done.

Many folks vow to get healthier by improving their nutrition, exercise, and weight loss after the new year. Afterall, we have visions of looking good as we shed our warm weather gear and get ready for summer. If you notice, the gyms are packed in January and each month thereafter, the number decreases. By March, things are almost back to normal at the gym. Less than 12% of those that make a New Year’s resolution are successful. Some of the common reasons for giving up are making unrealistic goals, making too many resolutions, changing their mind, don’t have enough willpower, and the list goes on and on.

After indulging in holiday treats, cutting out the treats may be one of the most difficult aspects of starting a new diet. If you plan to get healthier after the new year, why wait? Making the switch from the calorie and fat laden temptations that lure us between Thanksgiving and New Year can be difficult. Your body becomes acclimated to these treats and does not want to give them up. 

Cutting everything out cold turkey is one of the most common techniques for approaching diet plans in the new year. It’s hard to go from eating everything that you enjoy to eliminating these things completely from your diet. Instead of putting yourself on such a restrictive diet right after the holidays, consider options that will allow you to ease into a healthy eating regiment. This will increase your chances of sticking with your diet resolution and achieving success.

Here are a few tips that will help you transition into a “healthier you” in the new year.

1. Get creative with how you eat your meals. Fill up with veggies first. This will allow you to begin to get full without loading up on calories and fat. Besides the fact veggies are rich in healthy vitamins, minerals, and fiber, most people do not eat nearly as many vegetables as they should.
   
   
2. Reduce your caloric intake by opting for foods that are grilled, roasted, baked, or broiled instead of fried. You can jazz up the taste of grilled or roasted meats by adding herbs and spices or some low-fat or fat-free sauces. By altering your food preparation, you can cut out a large number of calories as well as fat.
   
   
3. If you have a sweet tooth, stock up on fruits that are naturally sweet like apples, oranges, berries, or other fresh fruits. This is a great way to satisfy your sweet tooth without sabotaging your diet. Also, it will Increase your chances of sticking with your new diet plan by substituting fresh fruit for calorie rich treats.
   
4. Find an exercise routine that you enjoy. Whether it is going to the gym or trying something new like setting a new daily step goal, taking a dance class, or exploring a new trail, make it fun and get your family and friends involved. Be creative! If you are unable to fit a long workout into your day, find 10 – 15 minutes periodically during the day to get your exercise in when you can fit it in. When you incorporate activities that fit your lifestyle and schedule, you set yourself up for success. You are more likely to stick with it if you enjoy it and it does not disrupt your lifestyle.

By easing your way into a new healthy diet instead of torturing yourself with an overly restrictive or fad diet and becoming more active, you’ll find that you’re more likely to stick with your resolution.  If you need help formulating your health and fitness goals for 2023, contact me. I would love to be part of your health and fitness journey.