Starting off Right

With the start of a new year, a hot topic that is on everyone's checklist is diet. Loosing weight seems to be one of your main concerns. After eating your way through the holidays, gaining a few extra pounds here and there, your clothes no longer fit, and it's a beginning of a new year.
New Year's resolutions are actually similar to diets. You thoroughly plan them but you never stick to them. I'll start on Monday. A study showed that around 1 in 3 Americans plan to improve their diet & lifestyle at the beginning of each January. About 75% of those people maintain their goals for at least a week, and less than 46% remain on target after six months. Although it's hard to stick to your goals nothing is impossible.

By making unrealistic and impossible goals what you are really doing is setting yourself up for failure. This year try to make a change. Instead of wanting to loose 4 jeans sizes and 10 kg by YESTERDAY, why don't you set SMART goals. These goals are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-bound. This goal setting technique is a fabulous way to lead a healthy diet & lifestyle. It's simply a smart way to look at nutrition. Setting a specific goal encourages positive behavioral change. Instead of giving up on soft drinks completely why don't you have a soft drink 3 times a week. Crash diets never last and you end up gaining more weight than your original weight.

Having a measurable goal makes it easier to track your progress. Measurable goals may be very rewarding and may increase the desire to maintain healthy behavioral choices. In addition, having an attainable and realistic goal makes it easier to reach your target. By not setting the bar so high you are placing yourself in a position that will allow you to reach your goal. Finally, every goals needs a timeframe. Whether its a short-term or long-term goal having a specific deadline increases nutritional performance.

 2014! Cheers to a New Year and a New and improved You!

From my plate to yours,
Maria