By Lisa Weber, CHC, Student in the Master’s Program at Emperor’s College
We are now three months into 2013, which begs the question – how are you doing with your New Year’s resolutions? Specifically, how are health goals going for the New Year?
The beginning of a new year is traditionally known as the time to set ambitious goals and resolutions such as lose 50 pounds, cook more healthy meals, or swear off sugar for the next twelve months. But then sometime after January 2nd we lose steam, and those lofty promises are broken.
Lack of tools to keep us going
Lisa Weber, CHC
The truth is all of us have the genuine desire to keep our resolutions – lose the weight, find balance, get healthy, and stop relying on sugar or caffeine to get through the day. Often times it’s not the ambition we’re short of, it’s the lack of tools and support to keep us going.
And here’s another truth: you can’t have success without failure. Failure is where we learn what works and what doesn’t. It’s the growing pains that make us learn more about ourselves so that we can find more kindness and gentleness the next time around.
So wherever you are, let’s start fresh together and commit to being healthier so we can be happier around ourselves and our loved ones.
Here are my five tips for keeping your healthy New Year’s resolutions in 2013:
1. Simply go one step up
What are you currently eating every day? Honestly. How often are you moving your body? Exercising your mind? Feeding your spirit? Be completely honest.
Notice where you’re currently at with your healthy habits and make your goal to go one step up.
For example, let’s say you eat out at every meal. Start by bringing one healthy snack into work. Or order a side of vegetables with lunch and dinner. Or cook one homemade meal a week.
Keep it simple and add in one healthier practice to your routine that’s a step up from your current habits.
2. Find a support buddy
I think we can all agree that doing anything alone just isn’t the same as teaming up with a friend. Statistics show that people with an exercise buddy who successfully lost weight are more likely to shed pounds, too!
3. Set up an accountability system
Did you reach your goal of exercising four days a week all month? Great! Schedule that much-needed massage. But if you haven’t, it’s time to donate your favorite music CD. What am I talking about? Set up a rewards and punishments system.
If you hit your goal, treat yourself to something special. If you don’t hit the mark, donate a personal item to a charity or give up something special – maybe your daily soy latte. This may be just the motivation you need to say no to the donut and yes to a delicious bowl of strawberries.
4. Hire help, if needed
Busy? Tired? Ask your acupuncturist for dietary advise. Talk to a personal trainer or health coach. Experts have the knowledge and experience from working with many people in similar situations and can support you when you experience setbacks.
5. Make it fun!
Whenever I talk to a passionate runner I can hear the excitement in their voice when they tell me about their running routine. Likewise, the same goes for my yogi friends – they just love their yoga classes. However, neither running nor yoga gets me excited; hiking works for me. I love going for a hike, and it doesn’t even feel like exercise because it’s fun.
We like enjoyment. So make your goals fun! Commit to trying new fitness activities – but only ones that sound exciting to you. Enjoyment = success.
Bonus tip:
Cultivate self-love. Your body is a miracle pumping your blood, filtering oxygen, and keeping you alive every second of the day. Honor it. Nourish it. Support it. And it will support you back without missing a beat.
Lisa Weber is a Health Coach who offers nutrition and lifestyle programs for men and women who want to lose weight, gain energy and heal recurring health issues. Graduate of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, she is currently studying Oriental Medicine at Emperor’s College in Santa Monica, CA and loves sneaking leafy greens into any dish she can! For more information or to sign up for her newsletter, visit her website at www.HealthByLisa.com.