With the New Year underway, many individuals are starting resolutions with weight loss being the end goal. Unfortunately, that initial momentum doesn’t last for more than a couple weeks, so it’s important to be prepared and ready for this to make the process more manageable and successful.
Below are tips to keep up the energy, momentum and willpower well into the New Year, and adopt healthy habits that will stick with for life.
Drop the ‘All or Nothing’ Approach
Healthy eating doesn’t require you to cut out your favorite foods once and for all. In fact, telling yourself that you will never have a certain food ever again increases the likeliness of binging on that food. It’s human nature to want what we are not supposed to have. It’s necessary to understand that a healthy diet includes all foods in moderation. Often times, people take diet and healthy eating to an extreme to get fast results. Instead, strive for a goal that is attainable, such as avoiding it more often than you do now or losing 1-2 pounds per week until you lose 20 pounds. To be realistic, a goal must represent an objective toward which you are both willing and able to work.
Be Prepared to Encounter Obstacles
One reason that healthy habits fail is because people don't anticipate the obstacles they will face when making changes. Making diet and exercise change is hard, and as soon as we are given a chance to quit, many people do. Anticipating what obstacles lay ahead and how to overcome them is a powerful game changer. For example, if you know you are tempted to stop at the ice cream shop every time you have a stressful work day, you need a plan for when that happens next. Understand your habits and figure out what else is a stress reliever for you. Maybe you decide to get a massage instead, or blow off some steam at the gym. Both would be welcome changes to a healthy new lifestyle and you will feel much better in the long run and increasing the likelihood of sticking to this healthy habit.
Talk About it and Ask for Help
Share your experiences with family and friends. Consider joining a support group to reach your goals, such as a workout class at your gym or a group of coworkers that walk at lunchtime. Having someone to share your struggles and successes with makes your journey to a healthier lifestyle that much easier and less intimidating. Further, accepting help from those who care about you and will listen strengthens your resilience and ability to manage stress. If you feel overwhelmed or unable to meet your healthy habits on your own, consider seeking professional help. Counselors are uniquely trained to understand the connection between the mind and body. They can offer strategies as to how to adjust your goals so that they are attainable, as well as help you change unhealthy behaviors and address emotional issues.
Looking to break from the mold of the all-or-nothing dieting plan? Seattle Sutton meal plans provide the moderation that is so important to successful diets. Stay committed to a healthier 2018 with the help of Seattle Sutton!
