Rethinking your Resolution?

OK, everybody – raise of hands…who made a resolution this year?  Next question…who has stuck to their resolution and has seen results?  Each year 80% of people who make New Year’s resolutions eventually break them and 30% don’t make it until the end of January.  And here we are in February…are you getting the timing of my blog?



So why do so many well-intentioned folks jump ship?  Most likely it’s that the majority of resolutions are quick fixes and are often so extreme that it’s hard for anyone but Jillian Michaels to stick to them.  If you start just eating rabbit food and deprive yourself of fun, satisfying food you’ll begin fantasizing about a big, juicy cheeseburger and chocolate cake and then, just like you may have done back in high school, you’ll rebel.  And then *Poof* your resolution is history.



People have a real attachment to their food (and that includes an emotional one.)  In fact, we are as unwilling to change our way of eating as we are to change our religion.  A gradual introduction to basic changes over time allows people to create big change and results without the big effort and upheaval in their lives.



I don’t expect you to change your way of eating all at once and I’m not trying to take away that cookie you’re eating right now.  If you’ve read any of my blogs before you know one of my philosophies: don’t take food away, but instead add foods in. OK now that you’ve relaxed, continue eating that cookie.



Rather than pushing you out of the nest with vague advice and a pep talk, I’ve listed a 12 step program as a roadmap for you to follow so you can change your health.  Although not every way of eating works for everyone, this list of general principles is a great foundation for most people.



Over the upcoming months I will feature a more detailed breakdown of each step on my guest blog so you’ll have a better idea of what to do.  I will post them in the order that I think are the easiest, but you can follow them in whatever order works for you. Just pick one or two that are the easiest for you and start them.  When you’re ready go to the next easiest step, start that one and so on.  The more change you create the easier it will be to move on to the more challenging steps.



And without further ado, here is your….

12 Step Plan to Health:

1. Drink more water

2. Increase green leafy vegetables

3. Practice cooking

4. Increase whole grains

5. Increase sweet vegetables

6. Experiment with different types of proteins

7. Eat less meat, dairy, sugar, and processed, chemicalized, artificial junk foods, consume less coffee, alcohol and tobacco (whew! That was a mouthful.  I know I said I’m more about adding in than taking away, but I still thought you’d want to be aware of this J)

8. Develop easy and reliable habits to nurture your body

9. Have healthy relationships that support you

10. Find physical activity you enjoy and do it regularly

11. Find work you love or a way to love the work you have

12. Develop a spiritual practice



Look for my next post for a detailed breakdown of the first two featured steps, but don’t wait for me.  Get started now and know you can do it!

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Ingrid is a board certified holistic health counselor and the founder of Full Life Nutrition LLC.  She received her training at Columbia University and the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, and is a member of the American Association of Drugless Practitioners (AADP).