At the beginning of each year many of us make resolutions to live a healthier life. We go on diets, we take out a gym membership, we set lofty goals. But many of these goals are left behind as the year continues.
We start on the first of the month, on a Monday, after this birthday, after that holiday. We always start and never finish.
So how about not starting at all? How about just doing?
Just making small changes? Adding good things in and slowly crowding out the ones that hinder us?
Have you ever asked yourself why you are eating? Are you eating to live, or do you live to eat?
When I finally figured out that diets only work for as long as you are on them, I decided to start eating for my health. I figured I could go on a diet and lose some weight and then go off the diet. However, eating for my health I would have to do forever. The difference was that as soon as I had lost the weight, I could go back to what I was doing before, but eating for my health would never stop.
I asked myself the following questions each time I made myself something to eat or drink: “Am I eating/drinking this for my health? Is this going to feed me? Are these foods providing my body with the tools to create optimum health?”
I started to make small changes. I started to add healthier snacks. Instead of the home-baked cookies, I would eat a banana or some carrot sticks. I chose a healthier peanut butter brand with less additives.
I used to drink flavoured water, but after reading the labels, I started to add a bit of lemon to my water. What I liked about pop was the fizz, so I changed over to club soda. Over time I watered that down and drank mostly water. I had more veggies, less meat, and cooked from scratch as much as possible.
I added more salads, cutting up veggies for a few days at the time. I used nuts/seeds, some dried fruits and balsamic vinegar as my dressing. I stopped eating cold cereals for breakfast and made oatmeal or a stir-fry. I chose smaller plates and found I did not need a big plate to be satisfied.
I stopped obsessing about making changes and just tackled a small one here or there.
I decided to become a bit more active. Not always having the time to go for an hour walk or bike ride, I could park a bit further from the store to make me walk. I used the stairs more often and went for a walk whenever I could, however, I did not fret about it.
Some changes stayed, others did not, but over time, I started to feel better. I figured out what worked for me and these changes are still part of my life.
My advice for this year is: Stop obsessing over your new year’s resolutions. Set yourself up for success and start small. Find out why you want to do this, what works for you and stick with it. I know you can do this.
Kitty Clemens is a retired board-certified practical holistic nutritionist and professional cancer coach who lives in Powell River.
