Weight loss, exercise, and healthy living are some of the top New Year’s Resolutions made each year. However, my yoga instructor informed our class the other day that more than half of the people that make resolutions abandon them by January 12th. If you made a resolution to be healthier in 2019, or even just want to make some changes in the coming year, keep reading for tips and tricks on how to achieve your goals.
Don’t jump all in from the start
If you begin your weight-loss journey on January 1 by immediately cutting out all carbs and going to the gym six days a week, chances are you’re going to ditch that resolution within a few weeks. Instead, focus on making small changes over time. Maybe you start by cutting out soda, prepping your lunches, or hitting the gym three times a week. Make your goals attainable. If you’ve been eating fairly poorly, focus on incorporating more vegetables and whole foods into your diet, and skipping the fast food. If you don’t know the last time you even worked out, try taking a walk once a day or make it a goal to get to the gym a few times a week. Once you feel comfortable with these small changes, you can then move onto bigger challenges.
It’s always better with a buddy
Finding the motivation to hit the gym or meal prep can be tough, but it’s easier when you have a friend there to do it with you. I’m lucky enough to have found a group of women that inspire and motivate me to workout. We all get together on our lunch break for a quick gym sesh, and we’ll also attend different yoga or kickboxing classes together as well. We’ll even get together on the weekend to meal prep together, with each person making one aspect of a dish so we can mix and match. On the days that working out is the last thing I want to do, it’s nice to have a friend to motivate me to get moving. And let’s be honest, knowing your buddy is suffering through it with you makes it easier.
Skip the fad diets
Keto, Paleo, Whole30, low-carb, detox, and cleanses are just some of the terms that get thrown around when talking about diets. If eating healthier is your goal, it can be overwhelming to look at all of these options and figure out which is best for you. Unfortunately, most fad diets don’t work long term, and people will gain back their weight when they stop the diet. Instead of focusing your time on a fad diet, focus on creating healthy eating habits for yourself. A life without ice cream and french fries is just plain sad, so instead of cutting out foods all together, let yourself have them every once in a while. Try to make at least a few dinners a week yourself instead of eating out. Eat when you’re hungry, but don’t overeat. Learn about what foods will keep you full, and focus on eating whole foods instead of processed foods.
Celebrate your non-scale victories
In my opinion, the scale is actually satan, and I’ve been much happier ever since I threw mine out. Weight fluctuates daily, and the number on the scale can be impacted by SO many different things (did you know that even some common allergy medicines can affect the number on the scale?). There have been times where my body has looked really lean and shredded, and times where I’ve been bloated and not so lean, yet the number on the scale was exactly the same both times. It’s also been proven that when you start a new exercise or healthy eating regimine, the number on the scale could go up, due to things like inflammation or muscle growth. So instead of focusing on the number on the scale, focus on other victories. Celebrate things like your clothes feeling looser, upping your weights, being able to run for longer, or completing a difficult workout. Don’t let the scale be the one to measure your progress, because chances are the scale is lying to you.
Find what works best for you
When I first started my journey towards being healthier two years ago, the thought of going to the gym terrified me. I didn’t know what to even do at the gym, and I felt way too self conscious to try and take any workout classes. So instead, I started doing Beachbody workouts in my bedroom. By doing so, I lost about 25 pounds in six months. Now that I’m more confident, I rely on my Beachbody workouts less and will do crossfit style workouts at the gym and Bikram yoga a few times a week. Find what works best for you and your schedule, whether it be an at home workout through an app or YouTube, classes at a gym, using a personal trainer, or even just going on a run. Do what feels right and comfortable for you and your goals.
The takeaway
Sticking to a resolution can be daunting and overwhelming, but keep your end goals in mind. Weight loss is a marathon, not a sprint. It will take some time and setbacks, but the end result is always worth it!
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