A brand new school semester, a brand new date to write on your checks… and a brand new you? Lots of new things begin with a New Year.
New Year’s Beginnings:
The New Year is a time notoriously known for people creating resolutions that end up never taking place. From creating new habits (or getting rid of old ones) to wanting to lose weight, the week before the start of the new year is the time most people reflect on what they want to improve in their lives. Ah, but here’s the rub: 50% of Americans create at least one New Year’s resolution, yet only 15% succeed in following through 24 months after the resolution is made!
Fear not! This doesn’t mean that you are doomed to fail in your own resolutions or that you should not make a resolution for this coming new year. If your goal is to end emotional eating, create a positive relationship with food, or start a fitness regime.
Here are some tips to help you meet your goals:
- Don’t feel obligated to start on the 1st of January. You can start December 31st or January 2nd. Transformations and true change doesn’t have a date or time it has start. If you tell yourself it has to start on the 1st, and you have a binge or aren’t able to make it to the gym, you’ll feel like you “failed” and may give up.
- Forget “go big or go home” Why not try “go small and don’t fall”? Instead of making your resolution big and grand, like “I want to stop bingeing” or “I want to fit into my old clothes,” make them specific. What specific choice you make to self soothe is not as important, as long as you create a resolution that is obtainable.
- Do not seek perfection – seek progress. Any time we request a change to ourselves or our daily routine, we go into it expecting nothing less than perfection, yet we know we aren’t perfect! Instead, prepare for your missteps – because they WILL happen. Plan for journaling after a binge, expressing your feelings in the moment and recognizing what caused you to binge. Forgive yourself for wanting to do or eat something else other than what you’ve planned. Enjoy the journey.
And a final word… as 2016 comes to an end, Integrating Nutrition wishes you and yours the happiest of New Years. We’re here for you every step of the way in your ambitions with your resolutions, and can’t wait to hear of your progress. If you feel that you need some extra help, drop us a line. We’ll be here for you!