Is Weight Loss one of your New Year’s resolutions?

I know I’m a month late to this topic but let’s talk about New Year's resolutions. I’m going to take it a step further and talk about one of the most common New Year's Resolutions...weight loss!! You might think Angie it's the month of February the month of love right why are you talking about this now?? Well there is a reason I’m bringing it up now… so let’s talk about it.

I know everyone asks, is weight loss one of your new year's resolutions? so I wanted to ask the questions a little differently...Why is weight loss the number one resolution every year? Most likely it’s because many have ‘enjoyed’ their holiday season. There are many different thoughts on losing weight for your New Year's resolution so I want to pose a new strategy. Like I said before, it may seem odd that I am bringing this subject up in the middle of February and not the beginning of January, but that is by design. My guess is a lot of you have given up on your new year’s weight loss goals. If you are still trekking away, I applaud you! There will always be helpful info for you to keep that weight off long term. And for those of you that have “fallen off the wagon,” these helpful tips will not only get you back on track, but you’ll also want to stay on that wagon!

Here are some tips for beginning your journey to losing and keeping the weight off:

Give up dieting.

• Dieting puts you in deprivation mode. That’s not healthy mentally or physically. While you may drop a few pounds this way, it most likely won’t stay off, and then you’re just going in circles. Again, not healthy, physically or mentally. Instead, think of everything you are GAINING. You are gaining more energy; you are gaining mental clarity, you are gaining better health for your WHOLE body, organs, and all. I love what Dr.Hyman says about dieting and food:

“We need to become resilient using practical, sensible, easy to follow principles that make us strong and vibrant, so we don't have to worry about food all of the time. That is my goal for you and everyone in the world, but we first have to remove ourselves from the grips of a modern-day, processed diet, which is currently the biggest killer on the planet, exceeding smoking and every other cause”.-- Dr. Mark Hyman

Balance your blood sugar.

• This is key. When your blood sugar is off, so are a lot of things, not just weight. Think hormones here. And when one is off, it is a domino effect. Here are some ways to regulate your blood sugar:

• Begin your day with whole foods, not carbs. Remember, what goes up must come down. Eggs with spinach and avocado is an easy breakfast that will set you up for a great day. A protein shake with lots of berries and greens is another excellent option.

• Cut the sugar. That is probably the number one thing that throws everything off.

• Take a supplement with chromium in it. I linked what I use here.

Manage your stress.

• Did you know that stress is a leading cause of weight gain? Stress-induced weight gain is caused by high cortisol levels running through your body for long periods. Cortisol is also an appetite stimulant. It makes you want to eat more. Other factors would be eating high carb/sugar foods and overeating. Some ways to manage your stress would be deep breathing, exercise, and being outside. Also being in nature is a natural stress reducer.

Could a health coach help you reach your goals?

My approach to weight loss is different. My process is to look deeper. Why do you want to lose weight? Is it to fit into a particular size dress or pants? Okay. Why do you want to be a specific size? Is it because you want approval and acceptance? See, you don’t want to lose weight. You want approval and acceptance, and you think weight loss will reach that goal. (spoiler alert, it won’t.) Once we realize some of these underlying issues, it becomes a little easier to drop those unwanted pounds.

Sometimes working with a health coach is a great way to lose weight and change habits, so the weight stays off. Reach out to me if you are ready to have that additional help.

I want to leave you with this...what if this year was different? What if you learned tools now and changed some habits so that you don’t overeat when the 2021 holiday season comes? Not because you are being ‘good’ or even denying yourself, but because you genuinely did not want to overeat? I know that sounds odd, but it can happen. Remember, you are not “good” or “bad” because of what you eat or don’t eat. If you stick to your 2021 goals then your New Year’s resolution for 2022 can be things like, read more, spend more time with family, cook a new recipe each week.

How are your 2021 Resolutions going? Leave a comment below and let me know!