Start The New Year Out Right!
Keeping Your Resolution

O.K., The New Year is rapidly approaching and many of you are probably thinking about making a new commitment to improving some area of your life. Health and Weight loss is one of the most common focuses.

You may be asking what you can do to be sure you keep that commitment this year. How can you stay on an exercise program, cut out processed foods, quit eating refined sugars, stop overeating or a number of other things you feel would greatly improve your level of health and wellness.

Affirm Your Goals Daily

To begin with write your goals down as if you have already accomplished them. You may want to write a paragraph or two for every goal. For example if your goal is to exercise five days a week you will want to write something like this:

I faithfully exercise five days a week for 30 minutes without fail. I get up in the morning, full of energy and look forward to going out for my walk. I enjoy breathing the fresh air and moving my body first thing upon arising. I love the way I feel after I exercise and feel good all day as a result of exercising each day.

Do this exercise for each goal you have written down. Once you write out your paragraph, in the present tense, read it out loud every evening before going to bed and every morning upon awakening for at least thirty days. Remember, it takes thirty days to break a habit or start a new one.

Find Substitutes

Another thing that will help you to be successful in forming positive new habits is to be sure and replace the negative habits with positive ones. For example if you are giving up refined sugar and the accompanying products you will want to find healthy alternatives such as dates, raisins, honey, pure maple syrup or fresh fruit. I would be careful not to overdo any of these things but if you are really having a sweet tooth you will find these foods helpful in curbing the sweet tooth and also offering nutritional value at the same time.

If overeating is a big issue, then find something to do instead of your usual meandering into the kitchen. You may want to write a list of alternatives. Write down the reasons you feel you choose to overeat in the first place.

Do you eat when you are frustrated, bored, anxious, upset, sad, lonely, excited, or afraid? What could you do with these emotions instead of running to the kitchen? Could you journal your feelings? Practice deep breathing? Do Yoga? Go for a short walk? Call or write a friend? Think about what substitute might work best for you and begin practicing it.

Choose healthy substitutes for snacking! Cut up vegetable slices in advance and keep them in a crisper in the fridge! Keep fresh ripe fruit on hand to grab if you are hungry or wanting a snack! Keep raw nuts around in the shells that you can crack and eat! It’s difficult to overeat on nuts when you have to crack each one first.

Get Support!

This suggestion will come up over and over again. I am a firm believer it is much easier to do anything if you have support.

Have a Goal Party! You may want to find a few friends who are also making New Years commitments and have a goal setting party. You can check in with each other a minimum of once a week to support each other on the challenges you may be having and hold each other accountable for the goals you set that week.

Find a Coach or Counselor to work with you for the first 30-90 days. Yes, this is what I do! And I couldn't have made some of the changes I made in my life without the support I received from some very good Counselors and Coaches. I am a firm believer in investing in yourself and your future by getting the help you need.

Remember, whatever you do to stay firm in your commitments to yourself this upcoming year, it is a journey and will take the time it takes. Don’t be hard on yourself and if you step off the track, step right back on. Be realistic in your goals and make a decision to do whatever it takes this year to be successful!

To Your Success!

Kaleah LaRoche is a Health and Weight Loss Coach and Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist specializing in helping others transform the quality of their lives through healthy diet, exercise and positive programming.

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