Changing your life is a process, undertaken one step at a time. I have written previously about why drastic changes like New Years Resolutions fail. Some steps toward change are too big to maintain. Lifestyle and dietary habits are often so ingrained that it can require a redefinition of yourself to make that change. It is important for success not to jump in over your head, but to consciously walk through each step of your journey.
Even when we take each step individually, some steps can feel like a longer reach than others. A friend who has been reading my posts at Diets In Review shared with me recently that in his struggle to lose weight the biggest hurdle was not finding new information on nutrition and exercise that could help direct his behavior or modify his metabolism or even avoiding the temptation of his comfort foods, but rather the most difficult part for him was believing that he could actually make it over those hurdles. Self-doubt is a hurdle in itself.
Carmen before and after her 80-pound weight loss.
I’m Carmen, and I’m thrilled to “meet” you! I’m new to DietsInReview, in the position of Chief Mom. I’d like to share my story with you, since, right now, you are probably wondering just who in the heck I am and why do I feel qualified to talk diet/exercise/weight loss/raising a family.
For most of my childhood, I was the skinny one. Now, that doesn’t mean I was thin – just that I was the thinnest one. It helped that I was very serious about my ballet classes, and training for four hours a day, five days a week doesn’t leave you much time to put on weight. Then I got married. Then I had six kids. With each child, I didn’t gain much weight during the pregnancy, but after, I rapidly put on the poundage. Every so often, I’d try to lose weight, and it never worked. I’d end each diet the same – face down in a gallon of ice cream, depressed and disgusted. I just didn’t think I’d ever be able to lose weight and resigned myself to being The Fat Mom.
It’s that time of year again. It’s New Year’s resolution time. Discovery Health wants to challenge you. Their National Body Challenge is a free way to hold your feet to the fire, and get yourself into shape. The challenge provides tools and inspiration, not only online but also on television.
Here are some of the valuable tools that will make the Discovery Health Challenge worth a look (and remember, it’s free):
- Customized meal plans with more than 1,000 kitchen-tested, nutritionist-approved recipes
New years is right around the corner, meaning everyone is determining their New Year’s resolution. What will yours be? For most/many, it is to lose weight or to get into shape. Here are a few helpful tips for getting you a jump start on your weight loss goal:
1. Start small. Make realistic, attainable goals. You want to stay motivated, so by setting and meeting small goals will keep your fire burning and you will feel strong to take on another more challenging goal.
2. Try to eat out less often. Unless you are personally preparing your food you truly have no idea what or how many calories and fat you are taking in.
3. Incorporate exercise into your routine. If you’re not ready for daily exercise, doing some every other day would be great, especially if you never exercise.
Today, Molly Wangsgaard, Corporate Dietitian and Program Development Manager for Jenny Craig, Inc., joins us as the featured guest blogger for the final time. Throughout December she shared her insights on surviving the holiday and impending new year in a healthy and enjoyable manner.
It’s that time of year when many people make New Year’s resolutions to lose weight, eat more nutritiously or become more active. Unfortunately for many of us, by the time Valentine’s Day rolls around, these goals are but a distant memory.
Often this occurs because we set goals that are too ambitious or too vague, or because we fall victim to the “all-or-nothing” mentality that suggests we’ve “failed” if we lapse just once.
This year, make kinder, gentler and more realistic goals. Create an action plan of healthy habits you’d like to learn, with reasonable milestones for achieving them. And treat the process itself as a journey where you discover more about yourself along the way.
0 Comments
