Each year, across the nation, people make tons of New Year’s resolutions, most of which fall by the wayside by the time Valentine’s Day arrives. Maybe this is the year you quit smoking, or do more volunteer work, or learn to say no more often. It’s certainly honorable to set goals for yourself, even if they’re in the form of New Year’s resolutions.
The one resolution you might want to scrap? Losing a certain amount of weight. Whether it’s 10 pounds or 100, the number should not be the focus of your resolution.
Why is establishing a weight loss target a less worthy goal than other resolutions? Because it focuses on the wrong thing. True, you may need to lose a certain number of pounds, but a better resolution would be one based on why you need to lose weight in the first place.
- Have you gained weight during an overindulgent holiday season? It may be time to consider why you overindulged. Often our consumption is tied to our emotional health, whether it’s consumption of food or some other commodity. Until you determine what need you’re trying to fill with food, any weight you lose will likely return later in the year. Want to lose weight and keep it off? Start by nurturing yourself, and indulging in things you love that aren’t unhealthy or fattening.
- Is your goal to be more capable of sports or other physical activities? Focus on the sport, not the scale. Do you want to walk a 5k, but can’t seem to walk to your mailbox? Concentrate on making it to that mailbox, and once you’ve conquered that, walk all the way across the street, and every day, keep taking baby steps toward your goal. The non-scale victory you’ll experience when you participate in your first 5k will be much more thrilling than watching numbers on a scale move.
- Are you trying to live an overall healthier lifestyle? This is probably the best resolution you can make. Get more exercise, push past your bad habits, and change your relationship with food. Once you see food as fuel, you are on your way to making good food choices, based on nutrient density and how the food makes your body feel.
- The one time a number is important is when it’s prescribed by your doctor. If you have a medical condition for which it’s recommended that you lose a certain amount of weight, by all means, do it. Consider, though, the factors mentioned above when you’re deciding how to go about losing the weight.
Here’s the good news: you’ll lose the weight you need to lose. When you focus on meeting your goals, living your best life, and being the healthiest you can be, you’ll find you’re happier and the steps you’ve taken will help you lose the weight. By focusing on the underlying issues and desires, you’ll get to the goal you wanted to reach.
At our clinic, our goal is to help our patients live an overall healthier lifestyle. Embracing an integrated approach to wellness, we create a customized plan for each patient, to help them find their own paths to optimal health. Addressing diet, exercise, supplements, and other wellness factors, we strive to help people live their best possible lives, free from pain and illness. Call today for your free consultation, and learn what we can do for you.
