New Year's Resolutions

January 01, 2020

Has anyone else noticed that the ads promoting rapid weight loss have increased exponentially during the lead up to the New Year? Companies are trying to capitalize on people overindulging over the holidays and setting New Year's Resolutions to lose weight. In today's "thin is better" culture, the promise of weight loss can be appealing BUT did you know that when it comes to losing weight, one third to two-thirds of the weight lost is regained within one year and almost all (or more) is regained within five years? Furthermore, health can be improved through behaviour change regardless of weight change.

Often the New Year's Resolutions we set are too extreme to be realistic. Unfortunately, just because it's a new year doesn't mean we can flick a magic switch and all of a sudden we'll be able to radically change our diet or squeeze in an extra hour of exercise into an already busy schedule. If you are looking for an actual fresh start this year, ditch the diet and focus on things you can actually control:

Participating in physical activity that makes you feel good
Eating more fruits and vegetables
Getting more fibre into your diet
Going to bed a bit earlier and getting more sleep at night
Drinking more water

Remember to make your goals SMART (Specific, Measurable, Action-oriented, Realistic, and Time-framed). Rather than trying to make big changes all at once, you're better off to start with something small and build on it throughout the year. If your ultimate goal is for 2020 to be your healthiest year yet, focusing on changing behaviours, regardless of whether your weight changes, is key. Your weight does not dictate your health or your worth. Don't let anyone tell you differently.

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