Take Time to Plan Your Weight Loss Resolution

One of the most common New Year’s resolutions is “I am going to lose weight”. With less activity and more time spent at home due to the pandemic, we can expect more dieters than ever trying to make a commitment in 2021. Most traditional religions have a day of atonement where you can vow to make improvements to your life. Setting a New Year’s resolution comes from ancient Romans who would promise their god Janus that they would be better in the coming year. Regardless of how much planning you put into your New Year’s resolution to lose weight, you will have good days and bad days. Your resolve should be to never give up and remain committed to your end goal. If you really want to make a commitment to losing weight and being healthier for the new year, consider your resolution to be a long-term investment that requires more than a few weeks to attain success.

• Identify Culprits for Overeating - Identify those things that drive you to eat when you are not hungry. Depression, stress, anxiety, and sadness are common culprits for overeating.
• Avoid Foods with Added Sugars - Sugar is added to many types of food, such as dressings, crackers, yogurt, cereals, and condiments, and too much of the sweet stuff puts you at risk for weight gain and chronic disease.
• Include Extra Protein in Diet - Eating more protein during the day can lead to major reductions in cravings and the desire to snack late at night without restricting caloric intake, portion sizes, or consumption of fat.
• Eat More Fiber to Feel Full - Fruits and vegetables are rich in fiber, as well as vitamins and minerals. Whether you are trying to lose weight or not, try to eat five or more servings a day.
• Include Good Fats - Eating natural foods that contain healthy fat provides more satiety than highly processed low-fat foods. Eating good fats boost leptin levels that signal your brain you are full after eating.
• Limit Liquid Sugar Intake - If you normally drink sodas and are craving bubbles, opt for a seltzer water or club soda. Both are caffeine and calorie free options that support healthy weight loss.

Setting a target weight is a common first step in planning for a weight loss journey. Nonetheless, setting your sights on achieving short-term goals can help fuel your motivation. 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. Taking the time to plan your weight loss journey can help you convert your thoughts into sustainable actions. This can mean the difference between a successful New Year’s resolution and another failed attempt. 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.