January, is again upon us, and for many, the start of another new year means a chance to make some new health related resolutions. However, "Lose weight and get fit" is the #1 resolution made...and broken according to Time.   We all know that as February roles around, most of us have already given up on what we initially set out to accomplish. Keeping resolutions can be challenging, but it doesn't have to be! Here are a few tips on how to keep your resolutions, and some ideas for bringing exercise and healthy foods into your daily routine in 2016.

 

It is easy to get carried away with your resolution. Maybe on January 1st you said to yourself, "I am cutting out all carbs and exercising daily in 2016!" Hold on!!! Setting goals is important, but making them realistic and sustainable is even critical to your success. Start slowly, and with something that you can stick to...or go big for a very short amount of time. Examples would be to substitute refined carbohydrates for whole grains in a few meals per day, or plan to exercise 3 days a week. Setting small goals does not mean that you cannot work your way up to big changes. In fact, it will help you get to your big goals much faster than trying to implement all your big goals at once. If you decide to "Go Big", keep the duration short and plan to change up your goals soon. Examples of this include deciding to skip all alcohol or all dessert for 2 weeks or one month.

 

Another way to make sure that you stick to your health goals is to include someone else in your plan. Have a friend of family member complete your goals with you, or check in with each other regarding your individual goals.  We are more likely to stick with our goals if we have someone to hold us accountable for our actions. Other ways to keep yourself accountable to your goals are to keep a food or exercise log, or blog about your experience. Of course the Dietitians at Nutrition Energy are also here to help you set/change and stick to your goals and resolutions. :)

 

Sustaining lifestyle related changes can be challenging, so don't be too hard on yourself if you are not able to stick to ALL of your goals. Just because you had a bad meal or day or even week, doesn't mean that you should give up on the rest of the year! Continue to affirm your decision to incorporate your health goals into your daily life. If you are really struggling to maintain them, perhaps brainstorm some new goals that will be easier for you to keep. Remember, start small and your success will motivate you to try for even bigger goals in the future.

 

Want to get your body moving in 2016 but don't know where to start? Here are a few free exercise classes that may get you motivated!

 

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And feel free to reach out to us on social media anytime! We are happy to see your posts on Twitter @nutritionenergy or on FaceBook and to respond with encouragement, suggestions and ideas.

 

Here's to a Healthy and Happy 2016!