Health Resolutions

Health and weight resolutions are the most common resolutions to start off the new year with. That’s one of the reasons why gyms do so well at the beginning of the year, and the reason they are so crowded. However, within the next month or sooner, the gyms are almost back to normal, and that huge rush of people aren’t there any more.

It’s awesome that people want to become healthier versions of themselves, that is something to be proud of - wanting to become a better version of yourself. But what is stopping you? When February comes rolling in, why do you stop going to the gym, or eating healthy, or drinking as much water as you should?

You obviously want this for yourself, otherwise, you wouldn’t have made it a resolution. It’s funny how we tend to be our own biggest obstacles when it comes to achieving goals. So get out of your way, and stop making up excuses as to why you have given up. Use some tough love on yourself - with love being the key word. You have to be your own cheerleader, and if you need a boost, look at all you have accomplished in your life. These accomplishments can be anything, from finishing high school, developing your talents, having your own business, building long lasting and strong relationships, having your own family, etc. Find and make evidence that you are an awesome person, and you are deserving of your goal.

Your self talk is extremely important when accomplishing your goals, and developing new habits. Start off small, and collect your evidence. If you make incremental changes in your life, everyday, and build them onto each other, you will change the trajectory of your life. And while going on your journey to accomplishing your goal, remember to be kind and gentle to yourself.

This is your life - you only have this one to experience and hold dear. So if you want to live a healthier life, then make conscious decisions to become a person who is healthy. For more inspiration, here is a list of amazing people, who can change your perspective about various things in your life, from habits, resolutions, and relationships:

• James Clear

• Brené Brown

• Joe Dispenza

For further tips and tricks to accomplish your goal, check out last year’s blog: Another Year, Another Beginning.

~ Dr. Charmagne

Another Year, Another Beginning

My favourite thing about a new year, is the concept of it being a new beginning - a new you. People will make resolutions, all positive ones, whether it is to lose weight and become healthier in the process, or finish a course, or do something you've always wanted to do. All of these goals help you become an improved you, with more life experiences. 

However, it has become a joke that most of these resolutions fail within the first 2 weeks of the new year. I often use the word goal instead of resolution because I feel like resolution has lost it's meaning. Resolution means to make "a firm decision to do or not to do something," and how can a decision that falls through be firm? So using the word "goal" to give some flexibility, as long as you achieve or have made progress to achieve your goal, you have improved yourself. 

Here are 3 things that I've found to help achieve the resolutions that I've made. I hope you find them useful.

Decide on your goals - A good way to start improving yourself, is to set goals for yourself to achieve. Let your heart guide you, and pick something you want to improve upon. What do you want to achieve by the end of the year? Also write the steps that are needed to accomplish this goal. Eg. If you want to get a certain mark at school, you need to break up the curriculum and focus your energy accordingly. 

Make a flow chart - Have the year in the middle, along with all of the goals/resolutions you have for yourself. From each goal, write things that you have to do to achieve it. For example, if you wanted to lose weight, you would write exercise, or eat more nutrient dense foods. Do this for all of your goals, and place this chart somewhere you can see it every day as a reminder.

Have a daily to do list - If we were to take the weight loss example, you would want to eat more nutrient dense foods everyday, and exercise everyday. You would write these down, and at the end of the day, have the satisfaction of knowing you are getting closer to your goal, and checking off that box. As the day goes on, you would choose to do these things, and slowly, you will be able to achieve your goals - because after all - anything worth having takes time.

Bonus - If you have a friend with the same goals as you, you can make plans to get together to achieve them. Whether it is exercising, learning to cook nutrient dense foods, support, trying something new, it is always better and more enjoyable when you are accomplishing something with another person.

By the time the end of the year comes, you will have achieved or made your way to achieving your goals. Do not be discouraged by set backs - they will come, it's a part of living - just get back on, and remember what it is YOU want to achieve. 

~ Dr. Charmagne