 In the next week or so, a lot of us will be reflecting on the past year, and dreaming a little bit about what the new year will look like. I love this seasonal reminder that “Tomorrow is a new day, with no mistakes in it … yet.” ~ Anne of Green Gables. And, quite honestly, January is generally a great time to set some new routines. There are no big holidays or disruptions on the horizon for most of us. And while it is tempting to “jump start” your new health-self with a strict diet, do your December 2023-self a big favor and at least consider what sustained habits you think you can continue throughout the year. Maybe consider the 80/20 version of whatever you are doing. Is your church doing the Daniel Plan together? Instead of super-strict, make it sustainable by sticking to it 80% of the time and allowing for 20% leeway. I’m not talking completely off-the-rails leeway, just bending the rules a bit leeway! Have one extra-special looking desert at that baby shower … but you don’t need to sample all of them. Or, while you are doing your new diet in January, be thinking about what parts of this diet you think you would like to continue after the diet has finished. Is there a new recipe you tried that was really delicious? Add that to your normal repertoire. Do you think eliminating dairy helped some gut issues you were having? Keep that going! And just a quick note on exercise … start small and simple. You probably won’t feel the full effects of your workout until about 2 or 3 days later. If you still feel great then, do just a little bit more the next workout. You literally have the rest of your life to build up your fitness, unless you injure yourself by jumping in too quickly! I would love to hear what your first steps for January are by commenting below! Interested in having support in moving toward your new health-self? Click the button below to get started!
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 Ahhh, the Christmas season is now solidly upon us. Full of excitement, joy, anticipation … and reasons to throw your health goals out the window. Who has the time to exercise when there are presents to buy and wrap and travel to plan? Why bother eating healthy at all when you know you are going to “blow it” at your family’s traditional fudge-making day? The actual stats about holiday weight gain, gets a little complicated. A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that Americans on average gain a little less than a pound over the holiday season. That’s within most people’s typical weight fluctuations and is hard to measure. And although it doesn’t seem like much, numerous studies that have shown that most of us don’t lose that weight in the following few months. Keep adding that pound each year … it adds up! My encouragement to clients this time of year, like any other time of year honestly, is that perfection isn’t the goal. There are always going to be things here and there that aren’t normal for your life. I don’t eat the same way on vacation that I do at home. But because I am home much more than I am on vacation (unfortunately!), it is my normal habits and routines that really make the difference in the long run. So there is no need to throw your health goals out the window. You are establishing new thought patterns. Those new thought patterns can include weighing the pros and cons of some of those favorite holiday treats. Is there a particular treat that you love to make? Make it! Enjoy some of it. Give it to friends. You probably don’t want to eat so much that you regret it, though. And do continue your new health habits most of the time. Will that choice set you back a little bit? Maybe. But you thought it though, decided it was worth it, and it didn’t derail you. Just think of how good it will feel come January when you can look back and say truthfully, “Given the circumstances, I’m pretty proud of the decisions that I made.” Curious to learn more about what working with a health coach would mean for you?
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AuthorKatie Kolb - Health Coach Archives
September 2024
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