The countdown is on for January 1, 2024, and as a healthcare professional and a dietitian, I can tell you the number 1 change people are motivated and inspired to make is to eat healthy, exercise, and lose weight. It's in the air, the inspiration to finally get to that body you have been dreaming of. I'm here to let you know that resolutions don't work. Over 90% of people who make New Year's resolutions no longer follow them by mid-February. Yes, mid-February, a total of 6 weeks. Why do we continuously make resolutions? I think it gives us a sense of hope, a fresh start, a new strategy. There is nothing wrong with searching for hope, new beginnings, and a strategy to get you started and going. However, the mistakes people make when creating fresh starts include: Too many unrealistic goals, unrealistic outcomes, lack of support, and depending on motivation to meet your goals.
Too many unrealistic goals:
Microwave success is the mindset that many have when thinking of creating goals and unrealistic outcomes that aren't supported by their environment (people and place). Examples of these types of goals include eliminating meat or animal protein from my diet completely for 6 months and losing 75 lbs. This is not realistic if you aren't receiving the support, changing your mindset, creating a shift, and guidance you need. If your mindset going into this goal, is "I need animal protein to make a meal or I can only eat vegetables for 6 months", you will not succeed.
Instead, consider what are you capable of meeting that starts with small steps. Question are you in an environment or around people that can support you? If you aren't that may be the very first step, joining a support group, support from a neighbor or nonjudgmental friend, even a dietitian whatever that looks like for you. From there, create outcomes and goals you would like and the necessary steps to get there.
Lack of support:
You have a 65% chance of meeting your goals if you have support. Most of us think we need to tread our journey of healthy changes alone, but this is not the case. The support we need can come in so many different forms. Support can come from family, friends, neighbors, or people who have the same goals and intentions as you. It is important to make sure you find support from others who can assist you in yielding positive results. Some examples of positive, forward-thinking support include the following:
They are positive about your desire to meet your goals
They celebrate with you when you reach your goals
Help you make healthy food choices and other lifestyle changes like sleep patterns and movement.
They encourage you when you slip away from the habits that support your goals.
Let go of the assumptions you need to be motivated.
Let's face it one reason people may not participate in their New Year resolution by February is that they lose motivation. Even if you never set another New Year's resolution in your life, motivation will fade. Motivation wavers from time to time and that is okay. This is when you have to push yourself to keep going and search for inspiration. It's important to find things that inspire you. Motivation comes after inspiration and often we depend on motivation to come first, which isn't possible. Inspiration can be found in nature, documentaries, role models, learning something new, or participating in creative tasks (vision boards).
New year, new you are possible, but don't let your efforts last less than a year. Making sustainable lifestyle changes takes work. Sometimes efforts that work should consist of slow and steady versus foods and health trends that last a few weeks or less. Take a moment and think through the changes you can make. Show yourself grace and don't forget to celebrate your wins.
Your Dietitian,
Jasmine Westbrooks, MS, RD, LD, CDCES
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