Posts Tagged ‘new year’
2019 and you
How’s your new year going so far? For many of us, the rush of post-holiday chores (and challenges) might have you a little flustered. We often think that come January 1st, some sort of imaginary light switch can be flicked in order to initiate change in all aspects of our lives — whether that’s related to diet, exercise, mindfulness or other habits that affect us on a daily basis. Sadly, that light switch doesn’t exist. But that can be turned into good news when we remember we have every minute of every day to get it right. “Step by step” as it were. So be gentle with yourself. But don’t give up on your goals. You are worth it. And you are amazing!
What drives you?
Here we are… Almost a month into the new year, which begs the question: Where are you in regard to your current fitness goals?
The good news is that wherever you happen to be, today is a new day and the only question you have to ask yourself is, “Where do you want to go from here?” Even if you haven’t accomplished everything you set out to do this month, beating yourself up, mentally, probably won’t help move you any closer to where you want to be. Instead, give yourself a mental hug and remind yourself why you want to achieve the goals that you want to achieve.
Too often we focus on what we’re giving up rather than what we’re gaining (pun intended). Living life on the “healthy side” offers so much more joy, so much more happiness and so much more choice. Don’t rob yourself of everything you have ahead of you. And if that means dragging your butt to the gym or turning down a second helping of pasta, do it. Because it’s worth it. Put those “horse blinders” on and stay focused on the reasons you want to lose weight and/or get healthier.
The stronger your positive mindset, the stronger your chances of actually reaching your goals. And those of you who are familiar with my story know that I know what I’m talking about. I once weighed in excess of 450 pounds. I would become out of breath just from talking on the phone. One day I decided “Enough was enough.” And that was after a million different attempts at getting on the healthy bandwagon. So no matter how many times you’ve tried before, no matter what’s transpired this month — today is a new day. And you, my friend, can accomplish anything you set out to accomplish.
Ready? Set? Go!
Photo Source: Pinterest
No use living in regret
I am completely enamored with singer and writer JJ Heller’s beautiful song, “This Year (Happy New Year)” and plan to make the song part of my daily ritual of reminding myself what’s important in life (and what’s not). Her lyrics are so simple, so pure and so freeing. I encourage everyone reading this to check out the song (below) and to really listen to the lyrics. It’s all about forgiving one’s self for whatever’s come before and embracing this moment for all that its worth. If that’s not a recipe for success, I don’t know what is!
The best diet of all for the holidays
This label represents the only diet plan you need throughout the holiday season. Relax. Revise. Enjoy (in moderation) — and be good to yourself, mentally. (And know that I wish you a very Happy Christmas, New Year and “all of the above.” Thank you so much for being part of the Just Stop Eating So Much family! Here’s to a great 2016 for us all!)
The definition of success
Who are you as this brand new year begins? How do you feel about yourself? What kind of energy are you projecting into the world? And, if I Googled you, what results would there be that define you? Answer with the first word and/or descriptor that comes to your mind…
Fabulous?
Amazing?
Incredible?
Fat?
Sadly, it’s often words like “Fat,” or phrases such as “Too big” or “Too this or that” that we would choose as the first thought that defines us as of right now. As dieters, we often think in terms of negatives – as if those depressing thoughts might motivate us to finally stick to our diet and take off some excess weight. But in my experience, keeping negative words and thoughts at the forefront of our inner dialogue can actually be pretty destructive.
Think about someone close to you. Someone you love. Someone you think hung the moon. When that person comes to mind, do you think about one of their shortcomings? Or do you think about their many qualities and the warm, fuzzy feeling you get as a result of having them in your life?
Now, think of someone you’re not a fan of. When you think of this person, do you list one of their qualities first? Or do you focus on the reason you consider them someone you really don’t want to be around?
One thinking process felt good, right? And the other? Not so good.
And yet I’m willing to bet that when you think of yourself, it’s often in the same sort of light you think of someone that you dislike or want to avoid. In other words, you’re not feeling any of the warm fuzzies in regard to yourself. And I’m here to tell you that you should. After all, you are an incredible, amazing person just as you are right now (in this very moment).
I don’t care if you have 5, 10 or 100 pounds (or more) of excess weight to lose. I don’t care if you recently lost your tempter with your significant other. I don’t care if you goofed off at work the day before yesterday. I don’t care that you haven’t quite achieved or perhaps haven’t even started working toward your goals for this new year. You are still incredible. You are still amazing. You are still perfect – right in this very moment.
This doesn’t mean that I don’t want to encourage you to lose excess weight, get healthier, look better and meet all of your goals. But I doubt you’re going to do it if you’re defining yourself by what you perceive to be your shortcomings. In other words, it’s time to stop defining yourself by negatives (like your excess weight) and start accentuating the positive.
When it comes to helping someone change, wouldn’t you be more likely to do anything to help the person you imagined earlier that you care about? And isn’t it just as likely that you wouldn’t really care to help the person you imagined earlier who you’d like to avoid? So why would you think that you can be down on yourself and still accomplish your goals? By filling your thoughts with shiny, happy ones, you’ll add a little pep to your step and be motivated to initiate the changes you want to see come to fruition this year.
Another example: Think of dogs. Are they more motivated by having their nose rubbed in excrement? Or by getting a loving pat and lots of praise when they do something good? You know the answer.
So yes, I want you to stop rubbing your nose in the “excrement” of past failures – not to mention defining yourself by the same. None of those failed diets, exercise plans or goals matter. They can all be counted on as great lessons about what worked and what didn’t. Today is a new day. Heck, it’s a new year. A year in which you can accomplish anything. But only if you think of yourself with love, with acceptance and with the knowledge that you got it goin’ on – even if you’re not at your ideal weight quite yet.
So let’s all give ourselves some mental hugs today, shall we? And let’s start defining ourselves by our positives, rather than our negatives. This mental channel change – and new definition of ourselves – can lead to amazing things (including weight loss, better health and a happier life).
What have you got to lose? Aside from the negative thoughts, that is?
Follow
-
