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S.M.A.R.T. Resolutions
Written By: Donna Rhodes | Issue: 2019/01 - Winter
Did you realize 80 percent of New Year’s Resolutions are broken before February’s end?
Becky Holmes, the Licensed Dietician Nutritionist of Mission’s Health and Wellness Team says, “We can be S.M.A.R.T. – Specific, Measureable, Activities, Realistic, and Time-Oriented – and achieve our 2019 goals with just a little planning and follow-through.”
At the heart of SMART is making goals realistic. After the holidays, we might feel guilty for over-indulging. So we slam on the brakes and load on impossible expectations.
“I’m going to lose 20 pounds, walk three miles a day, give up sugar, fast food, and margaritas.”
That’s an epic fail.
How do we set keepable goals? Let’s say you want to lose weight.
“While that’s an ‘M,’ or Measurable Goal, it’s also rife with variables,” says Becky. “Body type, metabolism, family history, exercise, and so forth affect weight loss. Focus on being healthy, first. Start by making a goal to add a second or third vegetable/fruit (preferably high fiber like an apple, beans, sweet potato, greens, side salad, etc.) to your meals.”
If you run afoul and have a cookie, don’t throw in the towel and eat a sleeve of them. One cookie is a treat. A sleeve-full? Time to stop and examine the reason. Is there an inexplicable fear this may be your last chance to ever have one?
Instead, tell yourself, “I can have a cookie anytime I want one. They will
be there.”
Practice mindful eating.
Upping your activities, “A,” is easy as long as it’s done in small chunks. Start with 10 minutes of walking every day. As that becomes routine, add another five.
Ask yourself on a scale of 1-10, how does that rank? If you answer five or below, chances are it’s not a goal you are ready for. Maybe setting a goal of trying a new recipe once a week is an eight. That’s doable. It will help your overall health. It’s not just one or two big resolutions that change your life. It’s often many little ones.
To learn more about S.M.A.R.T wellness, contact Becky at [email protected] and make your new year and its goals successful ones.
