Hi guys! As we’re coming up on February, it’s great to re-evaluate goals and intentions set for the year – have you forgotten them or let them fall to the wayside? It’s easy to set goals, but without a clear path and coinciding steps, it can be difficult to follow through and achieve the results you want. I know life can get in the way with a million other things to do throughout the day, but there are small things you can do each day to help make your ultimate health goals tangible and keep your resolutions going all year. Working new tasks into your daily routine is one way to start changing your overall habits – by routine and consistency. There is no “magic” pill, just pure mindfulness and dedication (with balance, of course!) to achieve the results you want.
WRITE IT DOWN
Tracking your food is one way to increase mindfulness daily by acknowledging all of your food choices and making a list of your meals, snacks, and drinks. Grazing is so common when life gets busy – you may find yourself devouring a bag of chips without even realizing. The more awareness of the food you’re eating, the better choices you’re likely to make. Logging may not sound like a glamorous solution, but it works. It’s useful to analyze habits and make changes where needed as well as deter you from overdoing it knowing you’ll be writing it down.
Going even further such as keeping weekly goals pinned somewhere in plain sight (i.e. at your work desk) will keep these goals solidified in your mind with constant reminders. For example, hanging up a post it that says “I will work out three times this week,” and “I will plan out my dinner meals this week” already put these phrases into action mode and you’re more likely to carry out that goal. To make it even better and more inspiring, create a vision board with associated pictures of your goals.
WEIGH IN
Weighing yourself daily or weekly is a great way to help remind yourself of your resolutions and goals on a routine basis. Acknowledging where you’re at on the scale, although though weight is not the end all be all, helps maintain mindfulness of where you’re at on your health journey. Staying off the scale may let your goals drift to the wayside as 5 lb. leads to 20 lb. weight gain in the blink of an eye with unhealthy habits and keeping a blind eye. Weighing yourself at the same time each day/ weekly is optimal as our weight changes throughout the day with fluid shifts and meals.
ZZZZZ’s
SLEEP. Going to bed earlier and getting at least 7-8 hours of sleep each night is crucial to good health, mind and body. Sleep deprivation is one of the main causes of overeating, especially carbs and sweets. Better sleep leads to more mindfulness and less lethargy – and better decision making. Have you found yourself reaching for sweets when sleep deprived? The body will crave carbohydrates to make up for the lack of energy. Making sleep a priority will lead to better decisions surrounding food and encourage more mindful choices.
KEEP IT REAL
Simply put, real food is good for you. Whole, real foods that are as least processed as possible and come from the earth. The more you can get your food in it’s natural form, the better. Check out your food labels – are you eating man made food like substances? Can you read all of the ingredients listed on your snack package? The more you gravitate towards foods without labels or minimal ingredients found in your own kitchen, the more likely you are to stay on track with resolutions and goals. Think of the last meal you had. How many processing steps did it take to get from the ground to your plate? If it had to pass through multiple factories and processing steps and doesn’t resemble anything of the real plant/ food, your body likely doesn’t recognize it either. Adding colorful diversity to your plate with fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds can help ensure your body is receiving the nutrition it needs. Making small choices each day to add more nutrition and healthy color to your plate can make all the difference.
MAKE IT LAST!
These are just a few of my tips for making your resolutions last throughout the year, and if done with mindfulness and consistency, can lead to great results. There’s no one shoe fits all when it comes to nutrition but some consistent habits can go a long way. I hope you all had a relaxing and happy weekend! I’ve been working on some exciting things for Fresh Plates this coming year, so keep checking back in for new updates! If you haven’t already subscribed – add your e-mail to the list on the blog to receive exclusive e-mails and wellness tips!
xo Samantha
+ Looking for a more personalized approach? Contact Samantha for 1:1 assessment and coaching. Check out FP’s Recipe Index for some serious meal inspo.
