The Missing Element of most Health Resolutions

Not all New Year’s resolutions are created equal, which is why up to 80% of them fail by February. Here is the missing element, and how to upgrade your health in 2018.

You got your planner, your calendar, and a new found determination to start 2018 a different way than you ended 2017. If this describes you, join the New Year’s Eve party!

If your goals were subject to a planner or calendar, then most of us would live by BOTH. And, most New Year’s resolutions would be 100% successful.

I HATE resolutions. Not because I have never made a health goal in my life (I have) or because they don’t work (they can), but because the feeling behind a resolution is very much tied to HYPE.

Hype means to promote or publicize (a product or idea) intensively, often exaggerating its importance or benefits.

Unless you live in Hollywood, there is NO REASON to leave your most important asset (your health) up to someone else’s whims.

Like most of you, I have set certain health goals that failed. And, that is a good thing. Yes, I meant to say GOOD.

I have also started a health journey that resulted in losing 100 pounds (no resolution required).

I have also analyzed and trained hundreds of bank employees how to improve their efficiency at their work using a combination of feedback and education as a Certified Fraud Examiner.

Finally, I have worked with health coaching clients with a history of failed New Year’s resolutions behind them. Every single one has achieved their health goals while working with me.

The solution to upgrading your health resolution for 2018 has NOTHING to do with you, or your planner. Watch this short video on why you should throw your planner out!

The solution to upgrading your health resolution lies in reviewing your past year, and recognizing what did not work for you. While celebrating what did. You can’t find that in a Google search or news article.

Every year, I like to take a review of my top blog posts, to see which ones resonated most with my readers. Here are the top 5 health posts from 2017. Maybe one of them will help you review your past year?

1. Eat like a Bird, not a Bunny, to Get Thin (talks about nutrition)

2. 10 Weight Loss Books that Will Change your Life (especially Art of Weight Maintenance)

3. September Success- Meet Meghan Joy Yancey (my annual celebration of weight loss success stories)

4. The Secret to Loving Yourself when you Hate your Body (for those who struggle with self-love)

5. 3 Mistakes Parents Make when Packing a Healthy School Lunch (debuted a brand new program)

In addition to the great blog posts I crank out here, I also have been recording regular Facebook Live videos, both on my business page and in my super-special group Weight no More. You might even have seen some of my videos on Youtube.

(Join Weight no More for a free training on Setting Health Goals like a Pro in the pinned post).

 

 

While all of these free health resources are available to you, that doesn’t mean you will take action on them. What I can tell you is the best way to change your habits for GOOD instead of for one month are to really analyze your current baseline habits, understand your triggers, and come up with a strategic health plan to address both of those.

This is what I walk clients through, and what I have done for myself. If this feels overwhelming to you right now, I understand. Make it easier on yourself by setting up a completely calorie-free Weight Loss Breakthrough phone call with me. Even if we don’t end up working together, you will walk away with insights into your next best steps.

It is not an EASY process to review your failures (you know that any health-related goal that states “easy” is another exaggeration, right?), but it will work. Every single time.

Before you throw confetti and sign off on another year, I want to share that missing element in most resolutions.

Resolutions mostly fail because they miss the most important piece of any health-related goal.

They miss the FEELING.

Losing 20 pounds by March 1, exercise 5 times a week, or avoid all processed foods are simple statements.

Yet, they take a WHOLE lot of work. Maybe even a lot of work that failed in the past. We like to think we can “Start New”, but our history tells a different story.

(There’s nothing wrong with you, anyway- why do you want to be NEW again?)

Without tapping into the feeling you get from achieving these statements, you are likely to give them up.

When thinking of your most desired health goal for 2018, think less of WHAT to do, and more of HOW you feel.

For example, my word for 2017 was Prosperity.

Prosperity means many things, but it taps into a general feeling of well-being and security. Initially, I intended for it to reflect financial security, yet the entire year saw me prosperous in so many other ways (including gratefulness and family life).

Take a few moments to reflect on your one word for 2018. Once a word settles in your gut, sit with it for 5-10 minutes and enjoy the FEELING it evokes.

THAT is how you upgrade your 2018 health goals! And, also serves as a sort of un-resolution.

Now, share your word loud and PROUD in the comments. I’ll go first with the debut of my 2018 word.