Healthy Eating Advice
Make a Successful New Year's Resolution
The New Year is here! This year try making a resolution that sets you up for success over the long term. Read on for tips to make sure your resolution sticks!
Evaluate "why"
you want to change
You need to truly want to change in order for the change to be lasting. Many
times people set resolutions because they think they should or to please others.
Take some time to think about what it is you truly want and why.
Slow It Down
Don't go too fast too soon! Change is a process not an event. Set goals that
require you some work, but are not too much that you know it is going to be
impossible to follow. For example if you skip breakfast daily, set yourself a
goal to eat breakfast 3 times next week.
Use Your Own
Creativity
There are many ways to eat healthy and live a balanced lifestyle. You don't have
to eat tofu and be destined to live in a gym. Be creative and think about what
small changes you can make that can make a difference. For example you may
decide to ensure you eat fruit every day as part of your breakfast since we know
that choosing enough vegetables and fruit substantially lowers you risk of heart
disease and cancer.
Set SMART goals
If your resolution is "to eat healthier" the goal is so general that
it is meaningless. Think about how you are going to eat healthier. Set SMART
goals (Specific, Measurable, Action, Realistic, Time). For example: "I will
pack at least ½ cup of vegetables (such as carrots, grape tomatoes,
broccoli, sugar snap peas, vegetable soup, or tomato juice) in my lunch 3 times
a week in the month of January and 5 times a week in the month of February."
Add Commitment
If you write down your resolution and tell someone about it, you are more likely
to succeed in keeping your resolution. Print off the following document and post
it up somewhere you will see it.
Open Word file: "My
Personal Contract"
Build in a Reward
System
Make sure that you reward yourself in some way when you have achieved your goal.
If you succeed in achieving your goal of walking 30 minutes 4 times a week for
the last month, then make sure you have a reward for your hard work. You may buy
a new CD, go for a massage, buy a new pair of pants for walking etc.