Another year has flown by and here we sit, listening or seeing people post about resolutions and/or goals for the upcoming year. What does the new year mean for you? Do you find that you are making the same ol’ resolutions year after year? Are they business related, personal based or perhaps have something to do with health/weight etc?
I used to make resolutions – many, many years ago. I don’t anymore and it’s not because I’m going against the grain but I often find myself making resolves throughout the year. I don’t need a Monday to be more mindful about what I’m eating ….nor do I need January 1st to start “being a better partner” or “crack down on my unhealthy eating”. For me, I often tweak my goals throughout the year and it could be on a Tuesday at 2pm!
We all know that this is the time of year that people start to make changes health wise. And that’s great! What is it that you want? To eat better, work out more/at all, lose weight, clean up your personal care product? Whatever it is, I think anything you can do to be a healthier you, is fantastic. But at what lengths will you go to, to attain these resolutions or goals. Will they be attainable if you go at it too hard?
I often get asked about how I stick to my paleo way of eating and not “give in” to some of the crap that sits before me (especially around the holidays). I also get asked about how I feel motivated to continue working out day in and day out. Here’s the thing — we know this time of year many of us make resolutions to start exercising or perhaps tell yourself that this is the year you’re going to shed those 20 pounds you’ve been wanting to lose and while I get it and understand the thoughts behind it, we need to remember that it’s about balance and making sure the resolution or goal you have set, can be met without throwing in the towel.
So you don’t work out from June through December — then you join a gym and start January 1st or 2nd …..and tell yourself that you’re going to go 7 days per week! Let’s be real. If you haven’t gone in 6 months, why set yourself up to fail? I have seen and heard it time and time again – and it usually lasts, what …about 6 weeks (max!). So instead of making a lifelong change to your lifestyle, you gave it a-go for 6 weeks and got burnt out. It happens and it happens a lot. Likewise with food choices – we all jump on the Whole30 bandwagon but can’t wait to eat a pizza “with the works” on Day 31 or a donut that you keep saying “I can’t wait to celebrate my victory with a donut (or 2) after I’m done with my Whole30!”
Baby step it my friends. Maybe don’t call it a resolution but more of a goal that you might want to meet for the year and that doesn’t have to mean going into the gym for 2 hours per day/7 days a week. If you haven’t worked out much in the past year, perhaps set a goal of getting in a walk a few days a week. Just get yourself moving. I venture to say that after a couple of months of walking, you may want to jog it or take it a step further and join a gym where you can get in on a class or what have you. It’s about setting yourself up for success and changing habits. I don’t even think about when or what I have to do to move my body at this point – it’s second nature and feels good to push the limits and get my blood pumping. So what’s my motivation? It’s simply the fact that I feel good doing it and it keeps me feeling energized!
I’m not going to knock the person who does the Whole30 because I am thrilled that this person has made the decision to “clean up their act” so to speak. I personally haven’t done a Whole30 (though many of my recipes are Whole30 compliant), because I don’t like the rules that are set. This would be contradictory to my motto of ‘Food Freedom’ and making the best choices I can for myself. I don’t feel the need to eat a banana separately from eggs — I mean, if I can mix up the eggs and banana and cook it on my pan, why not? Does it resemble a pancake? Yep. Is it actually a bad thing? IMO – nope! Not at all. But this very thing (SWYPO) is why I can’t and won’t ever do a Whole30. The other thing I see over and over again on posts are people saying things like “I can’t wait til my Whole30 is over so I can have this or that!” Hmmm. Isn’t the idea of a Whole30 to reset and change your relationship with food? So again, for me – if that’s what you’re having to say while doing a Whole30, perhaps the concept isn’t working or right for you. With that, I applaud anyone that is trying to make changes. I know that we all want to see or feel results immediately – I get that. Just be sure you know what you’re in for when you make decisions to be “all in” and that you’re ready for what’s ahead, after the said ’30days’. Either way, know that you will be ‘ok’ if you continue to strive to be a better version of you. It’s all about progress, not perfection!
All that said, a goal of making simple changes in your diet might be more of a lifelong commitment vs. 30 days of strict eating. Instead of taking out things, try adding in things. Perhaps you can add in more greens/veggies throughout your week or adding some collagen in your coffee or tea. Then after a couple of weeks, sneak in some cauliflower mash with your regular mash and hopefully – eventually, you can have all cauli-mash on your plate giving you even more veggies to round out your meal. Add in some paleo granola in with your sugary-ladened cereal and see if you can somehow switch it out completely within a couple/few weeks. Make some paleo cookies for that sweet tooth (heres one for you!) and have those around instead of the Chips Ahoy. Slowly keep adding in a healthier version of ‘something’ in hopes that your taste buds will change and you can at that time, eliminate the crap. I see this being more of a lifestyle change and lasting sooo much longer than a 30 day quick fix. If that’s not you – meaning, Whole30 works for you, then great! But ask yourself – how many Whole30’s have you done or will you do? If the answer is more than twice, then I’d try and find a different approach.
Welp. There you have it. My 2 cents on resolutions and goals! In a nutshell – I just believe that the changes you make for yourself should be attainable. I hate to see the person that goes full throttle, only to see them a month or two later, more miserable than they were on December 31st. As I said, baby step it. Take it one day at a time and hopefully better habits will kick in and become a part of your life and are second nature!
