NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS DON’T HAVE TO FAIL

 

Everybody believes that come January 1, they have to lose weight, look younger, and run ten miles every morning.  We even sleep better at night in December knowing that our champagne filled glasses, gourmet hors d’oeuvres, and peppermint candy canes will be cancelled out the minute we hit the gym in January and swear off carbs, sugar, and alcohol. How many of us have been down this road year after year only to feel utter remorse and self-hate by the first week of February? You are not alone. According to the University of Scranton’s Journal of Psychology, only 14% of people over 50 maintain their New Year’s resolutions while people in their 20’s did a slightly better of job with 39% keeping their resolve.

Dr. Felicia D. Stoler, DCN, MS, RDN, FACSM, FAND

 

 

With these dismal statistics in mind, we turned to two experts who both agreed that you should not try to do too much too quickly. “Realistic resolutions should be those that are realistic and attainable,” says Registered Dietician Nutritionist & Exercise Physiologist, Dr. Felicia D. Stoler, DCN, MS, RDN, FACSM, FAND. “For example, don’t make absolute statements – like I’m never going to eat any sugar again. If you are going to start an exercise regimen, start with one day per week versus saying you’re going to do it every day. Once you do it and it feels good, then ramp it up. Eat more veggies, eat smaller portions of animal sourced protein, move throughout the day, and get more sleep!”

Marra St. Clair, co-founder of Project Juice

According to Marra St. Clair, a Board Certified Nutritional Consultant, a seasoned Holistic Health Coach, and co-founder of Project Juice, New Year’s resolutions often fail because they are not truly what the person actually wants or needs for their life. “Rather, they are some intensified and/or idealistic version of what people think they should want or need,” says St. Clair. “For example, if I resolve never to eat conventional produce again, that is going to be guaranteed to fail because I love to eat out and organic is unfortunately not commonly served in restaurants. But if I resolve only to buy organic produce for all of my at home meals – that I can do!” Similarly, resolving to cook dinner five nights a week is also guaranteed to fail. The best option is to take baby steps and make the promise to yourself to, for example, cook dinner only twice a week.

So why are realistic resolutions more likely to succeed? “Because they are the ones that make you feel sincerely happy when you visualize them being implemented into your life,” says St. Clair. Unless you are someone who loves to cook, loves the gym, or loves to make lists, don’t resolve to devote your entire week to that particular task. “If you would feel better if you lost five pounds, do it because feeling better would make you happy! However, trying to lose ten when you only have five to lose could leave you hungry, exhausted, and zap your happiness!” she added.

So toss your old resolutions in the bin and start setting more realistic goals tomorrow. Whether it is spending less money, losing weight, committing to having more sex with your partner, exercising more, swearing off alcohol, or any other loftier goals, know that small, cautious steps will take you much further than ivory-tower leaps and bounds.

 

Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishments – Jim Rohn

 

To learn more about our fabulous experts go to;

Marra St. Clair – www.ritualwellness.projectjuice.com.

Dr. Felicia D. Stoler –  www.feliciastoler.com

 

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