Big diet and exercise resolutions can be a big mistake

LMQC Nutritionist blogger Jeni Tackett offers five tips to keep big diet and exercise resolutions from making you feel like a failure.

New Year’s Resolutions have become a joke to many people. You make a huge resolution that you can’t sustain a few weeks after January 1st. The gyms are packed for a few weeks and then back to the normal crew. The strict diet you start following leaves you hungry and defeated by day three.

Big diet and exercise resolutions are hard to maintain and make you feel like a failure. Here are some tips to improve your diet and exercise resolutions:

Check your attitude

January first is the day most people think about new beginnings and a fresh start.

Making a change in your lifestyle means that you need to have the right attitude. Believing that you can make the change is the first step toward success.

Know that there will be bumps in the road, but you do not have to be perfect to make a change. Many people go into resolutions with a black-and-white attitude – success or failure.

Let go of black-and-white thinking and celebrate the gradual movement towards a healthier lifestyle.

Add something in

Diet resolutions often involve taking away favorite foods: chocolate, French fries, and sweets are popular foods to restrict.

Rather than having the resolution to take away something, try adding something. Add in 2 fruits per day, a vegetable at lunch and dinner, a glass of water when you wake up, or a 10-minute walk at lunchtime.

Making an “add-in” resolution is a positive way to improve your lifestyle.

Set small, daily goals

Small changes are easier to sustain compared to drastic resolutions.

Set a goal to increase your steps by 2000 per day, drink two more glasses of water per day, or get up every hour at work for a 5-minute walk are small changes that can add up. You can have a new goal each month and end up with 12 healthy habits at the end of the year.

Seek out accountability

Having an accountability partner can help you reach your resolution. You may find that you are strong one week and your partner is strong the next week.

Your accountability partner can be your significant other, child, parent, friend, internet acquaintance, or coworker. Share your journey with someone to increase accountability.

By celebrating small accomplishments, people find it easier to stick to their long-term plan.

Celebrate small goals

Big resolutions with no end date can be daunting. Set small goals along the way and healthily celebrate them: buy a new workout outfit, get a massage, or schedule a “me” day with all of your favorite activities and time for yourself.

Make 2023 the year you make realistic diet and exercise resolutions that you can sustain throughout your life. Start with a good attitude and a smart plan, and end the year a stronger and healthier you!

New Year’s Resolutions have become a joke to many people. You make a huge resolution that you can’t sustain a few weeks after January 1st. The gyms are packed for a few weeks and then back to the normal crew. The strict diet you start following leaves you hungry and defeated by day three.

Big diet and exercise resolutions are hard to maintain and make you feel like a failure. Here are some tips to improve your diet and exercise resolutions:

Check your attitude

January first is the day most people think about new beginnings and a fresh start.

Making a change in your lifestyle means that you need to have the right attitude. Believing that you can make the change is the first step toward success.

Know that there will be bumps in the road, but you do not have to be perfect to make a change. Many people go into resolutions with a black-and-white attitude – success or failure.

Let go of black-and-white thinking and celebrate the gradual movement towards a healthier lifestyle.

Add something in

Diet resolutions often involve taking away favorite foods: chocolate, French fries, and sweets are popular foods to restrict.

Rather than having the resolution to take away something, try adding something. Add in 2 fruits per day, a vegetable at lunch and dinner, a glass of water when you wake up, or a 10-minute walk at lunchtime.

Making an “add-in” resolution is a positive way to improve your lifestyle.

Set small, daily goals

Small changes are easier to sustain compared to drastic resolutions.

Set a goal to increase your steps by 2000 per day, drink two more glasses of water per day, or get up every hour at work for a 5-minute walk are small changes that can add up. You can have a new goal each month and end up with 12 healthy habits at the end of the year.

Seek out accountability

Having an accountability partner can help you reach your resolution. You may find that you are strong one week and your partner is strong the next week.

Your accountability partner can be your significant other, child, parent, friend, internet acquaintance, or coworker. Share your journey with someone to increase accountability.

By celebrating small accomplishments, people find it easier to stick to their long-term plan.

You can also write down your goals and sign your resolution to give yourself personal accountability.

Celebrate small goals

Big resolutions with no end date can be daunting. Set small goals along the way and healthily celebrate them: buy a new workout outfit, get a massage, or schedule a “me” day with all of your favorite activities and time for yourself.

Make 2023 the year you make realistic diet and exercise resolutions that you can sustain throughout your life. Start with a good attitude and a smart plan, and end the year a stronger and healthier you!