New Year, New You - Really??
I realize I'm starting the ball rolling early. We do have one month left before ringing in 2011, and we have the next 30 days to think about what diet we'll start and what New Year's resolutions we're going to commit to...at least until around late February. But is this really necessary? Do we need to form a "new" us as the magazines and news articles will soon tell us to?Why do so many of us feel the pressure to change our lives, our appearances, our diets or exercise routines so drastically on January 1st?? Instead, I propose we learn to be happy with ourselves, appreciate who we are and what we have to offer, and focus on living and eating well for nourishment and pleasure every day of the year - starting now! This means vowing NOT to eliminate foods from your diet come January 1st. It may mean that starting today, you try to eat more mindfully, paying close attention to eating when you are hungry and stopping when you feel satisfied (not stuffed). Most of us agree we can always work on self-improvement, but I do not believe we need to change ourselves entirely. The reason most New Year's resolutions are gone before the spring is because we are trying to make drastic changes that are not sustainable, or there is really not a need to change in the first place... Here's a tip: self acceptance motivates change (not guilt).
I can guarantee that we will soon be bombarded (even more than we are already) with crazy info-mercials and magazine articles selling us tips and products and diets that will help us lose 10# in 10 days (or something of the sort). There will be eating tips galore and exercise routines to follow. TRY TO BLOCK IT OUT. Focus on what is healthy for you and your body and do exercises you enjoy - start NOW! Do not wait until January. Exercising for fun (not just for calorie-burning) can help you manage that holiday stress. Eat what tastes good and balance your diet with vitamins, minerals and fiber to fuel your body and give you energy. Don't create "forbidden" foods. Focus on health. Focus on relaxation. Focus on you and what's best for your body.
And so I am challenging each and every one of you to NOT go on a "diet" once January rolls around. Though the title was not great, my January 2010 blog offers some tips you may want to revisit; ways to eat and be healthy without deprivation.
For more holiday eating tips, including how to handle times of holiday overeating (yes, they happen to the best of us) read this article by Dr. Michelle May, author of Eat What You Love, Love What You Eat. In her writings, Dr. May explores the concepts of what she calls "instinctive eating." For those of you familiar with the terms, it is similar to "mindful eating" or "intuitive eating" guidelines. The goal is to pay close attention to the sensory pleasure of food in addition to it's nutritional aspects, and to savor each bite while assessing (this takes practice) your hunger/fullness cues so you know when to stop eating.
Good luck and here's to a happy and healthy holiday season for all (starting today)!
This post was written by Kristine Van Workum, Registered Dietitian and owner of Brevard Nutrition, Inc. Kristine provides outpatient nutrition counseling for groups and individuals to help manage a wide variety of medical conditions. She specializes in the treatment of eating disorders, weight management and sports nutrition. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 321-327-7948, or visit her website.
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