Setting New Year’s Resolutions – Kick Off Your New Year’s Weight Loss Goals in December!
Every year we make new year’s resolutions and plans for ourselves.
Losing weight and living a healthier lifestyle is a common resolution. Unfortunately, a research study from the University of Scranton revealed that a staggering 92% of people fail to reach their New Year’s resolution goals.
So how can you kick off the new year with a healthier lifestyle and keep it up? There are some general tips and tricks, but the best time for your resolution is before the new year starts.
Don’t wait until New Year’s to start losing weight.
Start now!
The holidays can be a difficult time for healthy eating. Alcohol consumption goes up, which stimulates your appetite and lowers your inhibitions. That can make it very hard to resist the dessert at all those Thanksgiving and Christmas parties.
Pass on some of that alcohol and opt for water instead. You’ll skip the calories from the alcohol and be on the way to better food choices. If you start your healthy lifestyle during the holidays, you can avoid the 5-7 pounds many people gain during this time of year.
A great way to pace yourself during the holidays is to rate the different unhealthy foods on a scale from 0-5. A 0 is something that only tastes okay and a 5 is something you have to have. If something isn’t at least a 4, pass on it. Only eat your absolute favorites in moderation. Don’t allow yourself to cheat just because it’s the holidays.
Also, don’t forget the mood dip that often comes after the holidays. Once the excitement has worn off, a bit of after-holiday sadness might set in. This can make it very difficult to make positive changes in your life. Should you decide to apply the changes before the winter blues set in, you’ll be in a much better place and may even be able to ward off those sad feelings.
A Few Things to Remember When Setting New Year’s Resolutions
Here are a few key things to keep in mind when making new year’s resolutions.
Be realistic. Don’t expect to change your entire life immediately. Habits take time to develop. Make plans before December 31st. When it’s time to start working on your resolution, you’re ready. You may have to find a gym buddy or diet buddy to hold yourself accountable. Try rewarding yourself every 5 or 10 pounds. Buy yourself new clothes or get a manicure.
Also, remember not to beat yourself up if you falter. You will falter occasionally. Just take it day by day. When it comes to weight loss, it’s about the journey and not so much about the destination.
Track food: Tracking your food in a log or diary is considered ideal for weight loss. Most people aren’t aware of how many calories they’re eating. Portions and even serving sizes can be deceiving.
Studies have found that people who keep food diaries lose twice as much weight as people who don’t track anything.
A food diary makes you more aware and keeps you accountable for what you eat.
Physical activity: Of course, physical activity is recommended for any healthy lifestyle. Commit yourself to get some exercise now. Don’t wait until January 1st to start working out. Start now! Get in the habit of becoming more physically active now.
By the time January 1st comes, it will just be another day for you.
Physical activity is ideal, whether you decide to walk around your neighborhood, hit the gym, or try some workout videos. Get moving a few days a week for at least 30 minutes.
Drink water: Water is another way to help you stay healthy and lose weight. Water can naturally curb your appetite, which will help you avoid some of those holiday treats.
It will also flush out some extra sodium, so you’ll be less bloated. Aim for 2 to 2 ½ liters per day. That’s about 8 to 10 cups. If you don’t like drinking water plain, you can always infuse it with fruits, herbs, vegetables, or spices to add some flavor and antioxidants. Also, the more water you drink, the less likely you’ll be to pick up alcohol, soda, or sugary juices.
It Takes a Little Over 21 Days to Form a New Habit
Consistency is by far the most important behavior to adopt when creating new routines of behavior. It takes being committed for at least three weeks to form new habits.
If you start now, you can have new habits before January 1st. Rather than attempting to redesign your whole life, pick one thing to change.
For 21 days, choose one thing and commit to it. When New Year’s rolls around, you will have already tackled one new health resolution!
Remember to stick to your resolutions. It takes 21 days for a new activity to become a habit and six months for it to become part of your personality. Stay positive and keep your head up.
Final Thoughts
These strategies are great, but what can you do to make sure you stick to your goals? Do not wait until January 1st to start. There is nothing special about January 1st.
Decide to pursue your goals based on your readiness rather than a date. Don’t set yourself up for failure. Typically, people procrastinate on starting something because they don’t feel ready to deal with it. They believe they’ll be more prepared in the future. This isn’t true.
Don’t delay facing your challenges.
Start today, so you don’t have the stress of procrastination on top of everything else.
If you found this article helpful, would you mind sharing it? We’d greatly appreciate it!
