It\u2019s that time again. Time to \u201cstart\u201d again, turn over a new leaf, set some goals. While I believe you shouldn\u2019t need to wait until some pre-determined, conventional marker of time to make important life changes, since the time is upon us anyway, I\u2019d like to lend some friendly advice to help you make the absolute most of then next year.<\/p>\n
For most, the focus is weight loss. Instead, I\u2019d like you to focus on something bigger than that. Your weight, it doesn\u2019t and shouldn\u2019t define you. No number on the scale or size on a clothing tag will give you self-worth. And honestly, no lab results will either, but making sure you\u2019re healthy so you can enjoy your life or work on finding your worth, defining yourself outside of how much you weigh, what size you wear, even what health issues you have, is a great place to start. So, what does that mean? What does that look like?<\/p>\n
So much of our motivation in this life and this society is external. We are motivated by money, by luxuries, by a physical appearance, a societal norm. Instead, I\u2019d like you to try something different this year. Instead of setting a resolution to lose weight, or run a marathon, or stop eating sugar, etc., I\u2019d like you to focus on you. Not your weight. Not your size. YOU. I want you to make a resolution to be happy with you.<\/p>\n
And let me be clear, being happy with you doesn\u2019t mean you can\u2019t choose to be different, to improve, to change. In fact, being happy with yourself, loving yourself, at its core, is wanting the best for yourself. And that means evolving, changing, challenging yourself to be a better version of who you are, not because you \u201cshould\u201d or because it will make someone else happy, but because this is likely the only life we have and making it not just last as long as we can, but as enjoyable as possible is worth continued effort.<\/p>\n
Ok, so what does this look like? This isn\u2019t so much about not making changes as it is about making changes with a different mindset. Instead of \u201cI shouldn\u2019t eat that because it will make me fat\u201d, thinking and truly believing \u201cI\u2019m choosing not to eat that because it\u2019s not good for my health and I love myself\u201d. Or instead of \u201cI need to loose 20 lbs\u201d, thinking \u201cI\u2019m going to work to choose foods that nourish my body\u201d. Making positive changes to your life and health isn\u2019t about feeling shame or guilt to do so, it\u2019s about finding motivation to take better care of yourself because this is the only body you\u2019re going to get.<\/p>\n
Next week, I\u2019ll give you some more tips on how to make this year a healthy, enjoyable, self-affirming one.<\/p>\n
Aubrey Phelps MS RDN LDN<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
It\u2019s that time again. Time to \u201cstart\u201d again, turn over a new leaf, set some goals. While I believe you shouldn\u2019t need to wait until some pre-determined, conventional marker of…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":1652,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[7],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n