When Things Get Itchy
You’ve got that New Year’s itch. “This year is going to be different.”
As suspected, the most common new year’s resolution is to “lose weight.” According to Newsweek, there is a 12.1% hike in new gym memberships sold in January. “There are 54 million people in the U.S.—approximately 17 percent of the population—who are members of some type of gym or fitness center. A disproportionate number of them join shortly after the guilt of a gluttonous December sets in.”
Aisling Pigott, a spokeswoman for the British Dietetic Association, says many people allow themselves to binge over Christmas on the promise that they will fast in the new year. Unsurprisingly, this is not the best way to start, she says. “People need to think about moderation all the time. Weight loss involves adjusting lifestyle, diet and calorie intake, whilst overcoming the psychological barriers too.”
When that new year hits, so does the sinking feeling “I gotta do this now”. The idea of getting healthy can be overwhelming and is mostly psychological. The language we tend to use is “I’ll never be able to eat that again” … it becomes an all or nothing. Which just sets you up for failure.
It’s important to not see food as an enemy – but more of a method of fuel – a way to keep your body healthy and in optimal form. Rather than making eating a stressful experience, try to make it an enjoyable part of your day.
Make small adjustments – not trying to do everything at once. Looking for that quick-fix 10 pound unsustainable weight-loss is not realistic. Diet pills and shakes will not get you where you want to be. Remove yourself from the scale, stop over-thinking what you are ingesting and eliminate your fear of food.
Some tools to use:
- Stop thinking about food 24/7 – make a list of healthy food choices you can pick from for each meal – takes out the guess work.
- Know your trigger foods – what makes you feel awful after you eat it and only crave more? Remove those from your diet.
- Don’t eat in front of the TV – it sabotage. If you must – dish out one serving and don’t return for more.
- Try to stop eating at least 2 hours before you go to bed…you will feel so much lighter in the morning.
- Add a probiotic to your daily routine…it works miracles in balancing out your gut and building your immune system.
- Drink water. Chug a glass first thing in the morning to start your day flushing out your system.
- Try to eat a salad everyday. Easy on the toppings, less on the dressings.
- Cut out the processed foods and eat more non-GMO and organic.
- Cut sugar from your diet – this alone will create a huge difference in bloating and energy levels.
- Add more exercise – if you are a beginner, start small and build up.
You have to make each small commitment realistic and achievable. Always remember – it’s not a diet, it’s a lifestyle.
And on the weekend, have that burger, sans fries. Just keep your daily routine in check. And, Happy New Year.
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