Break the Cycle of Failed Weight Resolutions

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Beyond marking time, New Year’s traditions reflect cultural and spiritual values, as well as an annual desire for renewal and prosperity in the year ahead. In fact, many cultures believe that a person’s actions on New Year’s Day set the tone for the rest of the year, which give their annual celebrations deeper meaning. Special dishes of food are often prepared to represent happiness and good fortune.

Thousands of years ago, the ancient Babylonians were the first to honor the beginning of a new planting seasons based on the vernal equinox, when the sun circles the equator creating a day and a night of equal length. Although the goals for celebrating the new beginning have changed over time, it has long been considered a time of self-reflection and an opportunity for self-improvement.

The phrase “New Year’s Resolution” first appeared in an 1813 Boston newspaper and lifestyle changes quickly became one of the most commonly expressed inspirations for people in the western world. However, most people view resolutions as fleeting promises that fade after a few weeks, but others do attach some level of commitment to achieving long-term change. But due to a lack of planning and unrealistic expectations, most resolutions falter early on.

Resolutions versus Habits

Although it might be due to our holiday schedule of overindulgence as the previous year ends, losing weight has become one of the most common New Year’s resolutions. But rapidly set resolutions for shedding weight can quickly leave a person feeling overwhelmed by early challenges. Suddenly, it becomes difficult to hit the gym for a workout or you opt for a donut at work instead of eating a piece of fresh fruit. If this has happened to you, welcome to February!

Experiencing setbacks, a lack of support, or struggling to establish a sustainable, personalized approach are three key factors that contribute to giving up. However, this doesn’t have to be the first failure of your new year. In fact, it’s an opportunity to refocus, create a plan and start anew. Resolutions can be much more than loosely defined goals — they are your chance to create lasting, positive habits to boost your confidence and improve your overall well-being.

Why do these quick-fix weight loss resolutions so often fail? For starters, weight and health are not as closely connected as many people assume and the number one cause of unintended weight gain is usually not due to a lack of willpower. The number on a scale is only a snapshot of a person’s wellness, and it is a mistake to rely on it as a sole indicator of success. In fact, this can lead to a repetitive cycle of losing and regaining weight, especially for those who struggle with weight control.

Incorporate MRC into Your Weight Loss Journey

Deep-seated habits guide much of your daily life on autopilot and these are hardwired into your neural pathways. When you suddenly demand a rapid and dramatic transformation involving increased physical activity and drastically reduced consumption of food, your brain and body will automatically adjust to this new threat of starvation. That’s why so many weight loss resolutions falter so quickly, as willpower alone is no match for these unconscious habits in the mind.

If you want better results this year, sustainable weight loss isn’t about crash diets and excessive workouts. At Metabolic Research Center, we’ve spent over 35 years helping people achieve meaningful weight loss while restoring health and promoting body positivity. That said, accountability plays a crucial role in sticking to your goals. Without one-on-one support, it is easy to become frustrated and lose your motivation when faced with unexpected challenges.

At the medical weight loss clinic Conway, you have access to clinicians who can review your medical needs and determine if the latest weight loss medications are right for you. But, whether you prefer to use medications or not, success becomes more likely when you have someone to encourage you and celebrate your progress every step of your journey. You never have to go it alone; the team at MRC Conway can help make this your year for resolutions.