How to Really Make Your New Year’s Weight Loss Resolutions a Reality
Happy New Year!
So here we are on Dec. 31st the date that inspires so much energy on setting New Year’s Resolutions. Love them or hate them, it’s that time when we find ourselves making a laundry list of the top things in our lives we want to change or improve.
Of course, the most popular one especially in my work as a health coach is losing weight. Gym memberships, diet books, detox programs all experience that post holiday surge with the best of intentions. Unfortunately, by February, research shows that 80% of people have given up and are left feeling discouraged and disappointed.
And the reason is the same reason that weight loss strategies fail all year round and not just those that kick off in the New Year.
To sum it up on one word: Mindset.
The truth is that most of the obstacles to achieving weight loss goals are internal factors not external. Eat this, drink that, work out x days this way for x weeks will not lead to lasting results if you do nothing to sustain your motivation, or fortify your capacity to handle the inevitable stress and discomfort that comes from trying to make change. If there’s one thing you can be sure of it’s that life will always get in the way of the best laid plans.
So what can we do to up the odds for making our weight loss resolutions a reality? How about focus on getting the right kind of makeover.
So before you focus on the biceps and belly fat I invite you to try my Top 3 Tips to Jumpstart Your Mindset Makeover:
2) Come From Love and Acceptance – Negative self talk is the downfall of all goal setting, especially weight loss. It’s human nature to blame and scold ourselves when we feel we are falling short. Telling ourselves we need to lose weight because we are fat and disgusting is simply a non-starter. You’d never motivate a child to work harder in school by telling them how stupid they are so let’s remember how we language our goals and speak to ourselves is powerful. Reframe your goals as healthy changes you’re making because you’re strong and you love yourself. Start calling your goals, your “plans”. Make a resolution to feel good in your skin, fall in love with your body and be kind to yourself when you are learning new things. Stop trying so hard to get to where you think you should be and see you are exactly where you need to be.
3) Develop Self Awareness – A missing component to most weight loss programs is an emphasis on self awareness and understanding. Questioning why you did something or are about to do something can put you more in touch with what is making it difficult for you to lose weight. Self inquiry also stirs up your curiosity, which sheds light on destructive, habitual behaviors and any self-sabotaging mind games at play. At the root of this is cultivating mindfulness – a non judgmental awareness where we explore our thoughts and feelings at the root of our behaviors. Becoming more self-aware is not difficult. In very simple terms it is about ‘noticing’. Notice more about yourself and what you do. Bottomline, the only way to lose weight permanently is to make personal change. And if we are not aware of what self-limiting beliefs and habits need to change then the task is almost impossible.
I hope this is helpful my friends. I want to thank you for allowing me to be part of your ongoing health journey and look forward to seeing you in 2017!
Be sure to check out my Heart Healthy Cooking Workshops this month! https://yourdeliciousbalance.com/events/
