Make 2018 the Your Year!
Ditch the Resolutions & Make New Year’s Solutions Instead

Do you find yourself making New Year’s resolutions you don’t keep? The top New Year’s resolutions are losing weight and quitting smoking. If you make the same resolution every New Year and come mid-January you are back to your old habits, you are not alone. This year, I would love to see you make New Year’s Solutions by adopting a few healthy habits into your daily routine rather than eliminating all the bad stuff all at once.

“The path to success is to take massive, determined action.
It’s what you practice in private that you will be rewarded for in public.” – Tony Robbins

Here are 10 ways to help you take determined action:

Be Consistent
Whether you are cutting back on sugars, carbs & fats or you are
adding a piece of fresh fruit or salad with each meal, do it happily and consistently
EVERY SINGLE DAY.

Clean & Organize your food storage areas before you go shopping.
Storing your new, fresh foods in a clean and organized fridge, freezer or pantry
ensures that you will actually use what you have.
Leftovers won’t rot away as they get pushed to the back and nothing will
get lost in an overstocked environment.
You’ll be able to plan meals easier, knowing what you have on hand.

Plan Your Meals for the Week
We typically eat 15 meals during a Monday thru Friday work week
including breakfasts, lunches and dinners (not snacks or mini-meals).
Plan out how many meals you will eat out and how many you will make yourself
and prepare them the night before so you can just grab and go.

Plan to Make More of Your Meals From Scratch
Throw out the Hamburger Helper and Lean Cuisine…it is not doing you any good.
Rather than preparing frozen dinners or processed foods from a can or boxed mix, you can make the same meals using fresh whole foods and enjoy the process.

Find Fresher, Healthier Versions of Your Favorite Recipes on Pinterest
Search recipe sites with keywords like fresh, raw or healthy along with the name of
your favorite recipe. Stick to ones with the fewest, freshest ingredients that are easy to make.
If you have a sweet tooth, purchase the ingredients to make a batch of cookies or snacks from scratch instead of buying a boxed, ready-made and highly processed versions.
Portion control all sweets and snack and indulge frequently in fresh fruits & veggies.
Check to see what you have on hand before shopping so you don’t forget anything.

Make a shopping list of the items you need & stick to it!
Unplanned and impulsive food purchases are costly.
Sticking to the list will save you money, time and calories.
Purchase fresh ingredients by shopping the perimeter of the store
rather than the aisles (that’s where all the processed foods are)!

Add One Fresh Salad to One Meal Per Day
Or replace your lunch with a large salad full of dark green leafy veg, packed with other fresh fruits & veg like tomatoes, onions, celery, avocado, chick peas, cucumber (stick to veggies you like) along with a simple oil & vinegar dressing. It will be yummy, healthy and will save you time, money and calories.

Brew Your Coffee at Home
Having your coffee at home with a simple breakfast of nutrient-dense Greek yogurt & fresh berries topped with granola also saves you time, money and calories.
You won’t be tempted to add sugary, calorie-dense syrups to your coffee or indulge in fat- & carb-laden donuts, bagels or breakfast sandwiches at the drive thru!

Get Yourself Moving
As we age, we lose muscle and we start to get stiff and achy and we don’t
feel like moving, getting trapped in a circle of non-activity.
Talk yourself INTO an exercise routine, finding something you love to do!
Take the dog on a longer walk. Find a Meet-Up group that sparks your interest.
Go for a hike. Join a gym or a YMCA. Go swimming, take a yoga or Zumba class.
Or simply do extra housework, use your staircase as a fitness tool or even clear off and use the exercise equipment you are using as a clothes rack right now!
Whatever it is, just do something and make a plan to start in stages with ten minute workouts increasing to 15 and then 20 as you start feeling stronger.

Take Your Solutions Seriously
No one is going to do it for you. You are responsible for your actions and reactions.
Don’t make excuses for why you can’t do it. Give yourself the reason’s why you MUST do it.
You only live once and you should be LIVING, not just merely surviving.

Benefits of Your New Year’s Solutions
Committing to a solution rather than a resolution is easier because you aren’t giving anything up. You’re just adding in a few simple steps that will have a huge impact on your well-being. Not only will you save time, money and calories, you may naturally relieve aches, pains and fatigue, breathe easier, have more energy and better balance, lower blood pressure and start sleeping better….just to name a few!
You will have a better outlook and you’ll feel better and laugh more!
Who doesn’t want that?!