Make a New Start for the New Year

Now that you’ve made your New Year’s resolution, try breaking down your actual goal into specific steps. That will let you track your progress and adjust your weight loss plan if you encounter obstacles along the way. It is important to remember that sustainable weight loss can take time. Worry less about minor fluctuations and concentrate more on shedding pounds at a slow but steady pace. Even if you don’t lose the number of pounds selected for your New Year’s resolution, eating healthier and being more physically active is good for your health and will likely lead to attaining a realistic weight at some point. If you don’t have the time, resources, motivation, or determination to accomplish your goals, making a New Year’s resolution to lose weight is waste of time. Make sure the goals you set are relevant and attainable.

• Recruit Healthy Support - Hitting a plateau can cause your progress to stall. Having a good support mechanism in place provides an accountability partner to help you overcome emotional barriers.
• Hold Yourself Accountable - Approach achieving your resolution one step at time by striving for progress, not perfection. Troubleshoot what barriers or obstacles may have gotten in your way.
• Plan on Keeping Your Resolution - When setbacks occur, focus on what went wrong and learn from your mistakes. Giving yourself the leeway to make adjustments means you are less likely to completely give up on your resolution.
• Set a Realistic Resolution - Setting measurable goals and being consistent in your efforts will help ensure your resolution is more attainable. Just make sure your goals are also meaningful.
• Stay Persistent but Be Patient - If you are working on lifestyle changes, staying on track and maintaining momentum can be tricky. Avoid being too critical of yourself and keep a positive mindset.
• Track Your Progression - Measuring your weight loss achievements will help identify areas where there is still room for improvement and allow you to fine tune your path to success.

If your goal in 2021 is lose weight, it is important that you understand what you don’t eat is equally important as what you choose to eat. Different foods prompt the body to store fat in different ways. If you tend to get stuck in a rut, changing up your menus can be the spice of life. Eating at home more often can help you manage consumption and will allow your creativity in the kitchen to take center stage. Avoid gimmicks, fad diets, and over-the-counter weight loss products. There is very little evidence any of these result in permanent weight loss. Plan your journey and celebrate your successes along the way. Don’t make a New Year’s resolution to lose weight unless it is something you really want to do. Studies show that engaging in weight loss out of self-mandated pressure means you’re not likely to stick with it.