Have you made any this year? New Years Resolutions that is? Mores the point, how long before they fade away as a distant memory and you give up on them? I `Resolved` to do more yoga classes and finally get on top of my allergies. Iv`e already booked in to have allergy testing next month so I`m already heading in the right direction. I will continue to eat in a `clean manner` and contribute to my health through nutritional eating and as chemical free lifestyle as possible (within the bounds of not being an obsessive nut)
.Did you make one or a list? and how`s it going so far? January is the traditional month of embarking on those pesky resolutions that seemed pretty straight forward and reasonable at the time. Perhaps you are one of the deeper thinkers, that approach resolutions with great thought and determination (usually the more successful at it). But by end of February, many of us have given up, or the shine and ideal has worn off - it`s not fun giving up stuff we love to eat and do even though we know they are bad for us. All my gym classes are full to the gills at the moment, with people trying to undo all their Christmas cheer, with the resolution to be healthier this year or to lose some weight this year. I know from past experience that class numbers always decline as winter approaches, meaning many have given up or gone back to bad habits.
It`s the time of the year for new beginnings and many of us are wanting to make changes for the better but are unclear of how to actually achieve it, then we get lost along the way and lose interest. I commend anyone having a go at making changes for the better in their lives, but unless you give yourself clear guidelines on how to reach your goal, you ultimately set up for failure.
So how do we actually achieve our Resolutions? Firstly don`t have unrealistic ones. Not many people can change lifestyle habits easily. Next, just take one step at a time - you know, baby steps. When I first started my healthier Resolution journey at the beginning of last year, I began by giving up all Aspartame's.Then it was processed sugar, and then gluten. One challenge at a time.
If your decision is to `get healthy` this year, or `lose x amount of weight` then the answer is not just about going hard at the gym and trying to stay away from fast foods. These are great ideas if you stick at it - but it should be at a level that you are prepared to live by - permanently. When your efforts have finally rewarded you with some good results, you then need to maintain them, or risk slipping straight back to where you started - or worse! So it should be a change your committed to live by. The aim is to make small changes for good. When you`ve mastered that, then make the next change, with the intention that it will be for good. You can always take it to the next step or phase as you adjust to living with, and without certain things. If you don`t stress the body out with extremes, and unrealistic goals, you will have much better success, and if you make a conscious effort to change your perception about what you eat and drink and how you think about food and exercise, then your on your way to being a healthier you - for life.
After all, there are plenty of better options out there, you just have to look for them, implement them, then try to live by them.
If you are serious about making some changes, the best way forward is to change one thing at a time. That way you don`t overwhelm yourself. When you`ve mastered that, then add the next thing. A great example is giving up sugar. This is extremely hard to do as it encompasses not only what you put in your mouth, but your emotions, hormones and lifestyle at the same time. A better way to go, is to ease into the changes with a controllable limit like giving up sugars in soft drinks, sport drinks and juices first. When you feel that this is no longer a tough thing to live with, then add the next layer and cut out lollies, sweets and icecreams and finally when your body has adjusted to these changes add the next layer by cutting out all processed sugars that are hidden in so many things we eat (which means reading ingredients labels). Don`t forget you can supplement your cravings with small amounts of honey or pure maple syrup as a substitute in cooking so your sweet tooth doesn`t miss out.
Now the trick to this working, is to allow at least a month per change, so you don`t go through sugar withdrawals, which can ultimately be your undoing. Very few people are prepared for a withdrawal period and when your at your lowest it`s easy to give up. And of course, if you fall off the wagon - get straight back on the next day.
If you set yourself a six month target to feel healthier or lose some excess weight, then you can reassess when you get there and make new goals at that stage, planning how to stick to your guns through winter and so on. It helps if you develop an interest in cooking healthier foods as it will help to drive your focus. Stick to choosing better options when you eat out, and don`t have a mindset that tells you your missing out - you should be proud of your better choices and feel good that you`ve made them and live by them.
Good luck with your year ahead. May you be the person you always wanted to be, because your achievements are the elixir of life. Share your New Years Resolutions as a comment to re-affirm your commitment to change.
