Tag Archive for: resolutions

 

On the dawn of 2018 , this is good time to think about setting intentions and making resolutions for the year ahead. Setting and keeping intentions gives us a sense of accomplishment and self worth. With an average of only 8% of people keeping their resolutions; they’re easy to make and hard to keep. Below are a few easy tips on how not to derail in the New year.

Be realistic

For example, if you’re aiming to get healthy or lose weight, aim for 5 pounds and cutting out one bad food. The idea is to set yourself up for success. By keeping the resolution achievable you will hit your goal and can always increase as the year progresses.

 

Be Accountable

Make a resolution with a friend. A great idea is to make a plan to meet up for a run or workout twice a week. By involving another person, you become accountable to one another. If you own a Fitbit or use workout tracking apps, share them on social media, as this is accountability too.

 

Set a Timeline

A realistic time line will allow you to hit and surpass your goal. Resolutions derail when the time line is too short. A helpful tool is calendar you can mark the days off-this way you can visually see your progress. Remember this is marathon not a sprint.

 

Popular Resolution Ideas:

  • Exercise more
  • Get outside more
  • Read more books
  • Volunteer
  • Meditate
  • Practice patience
  • Run a half marathon
  • Clean out your closet
  • Enjoy life more
  • Remove toxic people from your life
  • Lose weight
  • Spend more time with family
  • Empty cabinets of junk food
  • Self love
  • Be positive

 

Here is to a very happy, healthy and peaceful New Year!

 

Every January people panic over what type of detox to attempt or foods to eliminate and by the third week, the bad habits are usually back with vengeance. No need to fall off the wagon before February! So this year we decided to implement healthy choices all year long not just for January. We all know that the key to success is moderation. Instead of trying to quit every bad habit cold turkey, we are going to change it up on monthly basis. Every month we will decrease or eliminate an unhealthy habit. Below are a few tips and tricks to get the year started right!

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Photo via Byrdie

Limit alcohol intake to once a week. If your job requires a lot of socializing try to drink 1:1- one water to every one alcoholic drink. This will help ward off dehydration. Drinking extra water will also create the feeling of fullness.

Limit sugar intake to once a week. The trick with sugar is getting it out of  your system. Sugar is the devil and really the worst thing for your body. Start reading labels and thinking about what is in the food you eat. Hidden sugars will derail any healthy diet. If you have a sweet tooth reach for the dark chocolate. Dark chocolate is a good sugar to eat in moderation and you bypass all the gross chemicals in junk food candy.

Switch dairy to a non-dairy choice. There are so many dairy alternatives available now. Soy, coconut milk, rice milk, and almond milk (which comes in many varieties). First and foremost milk is for baby cow consumption not human consumption. Dairy causes inflammation and is acid forming in our bodies. After pasteurization, all enzymes, proteins and vitamins have been destroyed and therefore milk provides no real health benefits.

A fibrous diet is a happy one. If you suffer from constipation or lack of regularity, add a cruciferous vegetable to your diet. Broccoli, Red or Green Cabbage, Cauliflower, Brussels and Kale all contain phytochemicals, vitamins and are very high in fiber. They are all also crunchy and easy to cook with.

Drink as much water as possible. Eight glasses always sounds like a lot, but it really does help the entire body. Your eyes and skin will be clearer and your body will function at a higher level when hydrated.

Exercise is the best cure for the winter blues, a few extra holiday pounds and overall wellness. Exercise allows us to sweat out toxins(salt, sugar, alcohol), increase circulation, increase blood flow and release endorphins. Endorphins make you feel good!

 

If you’re like most of the millions of people who made a new year’s resolution, now you’re really starting to feel the pressure and possibly the urge to give up. It is now February and all the good reasons you made the resolution are almost a distant memory. Which is why now is the perfect time to kick yourself into gear. First thing first, if you made a resolution and have already derailed, it is never too late to start again. Follow a few easy rules and you’ll be back on track in no time.

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Accountability is crucial when it comes to sticking with a resolution. If your resolution was to lose weight then choose a workout buddy. Set a date and time in advance every week. You will be less likely to cancel if you know your friend is waiting and counting on you. If you really need an extra push try a bootcamp or cross training class that has one on one attention. Many classes have 12-15 people and offer more personalized attention.

Share your resolutions and goals with friends and family. The more people you share with the more support you will receive and the less likely you are to breakdown and quit. Having a strong support system always proves beneficial and can help you reach your goals faster.

Set yourself up for success. Whether you’re trying to kick a bad habit like smoking or drinking, or just drop a few pounds or spend money less frivolously, surround yourself with people that have healthy influences on you. If you have a friend that loves to go out for happy hour everyday, it may be time to invite her to do something else. You can also steer clear of situations that will make you want to fall back into old habits. It usually takes at least 30 days to break a habit and some experts say that 90 is even better!

Think about buying a big calendar and start marking each day you achieve your goal. Get a magic marker and X out each day, this way you will have a visual of your progress.  A vision board can be very helpful too. Regardless of what your vision or goal is, having pictures or inspirational cut out words can help you achieve it!