Keeping Up with Your New Year’s Resolutions

OK, so you want to keep up with your New Year’s resolutions. Now what?  For most of us, resolutions are hard to keep. They are good intentions – but not made with specific follow through plans. If you’re looking for a diet New Year’s resolution you will want to keep, consider these 7 top resolutions for a new year…

#1 Resolve to stop drinking soda, sweetened juices, and sugary drinks

So many people around the world drink their calories. This sugar is hard on your health. It adds unnecessary weight and it affects blood sugar levels. Resolve to eliminate soda and sugary drinks from your diet. You may be able to eliminate several hundred calories a day from this simple adjustment.

#2 Resolve to eat fruits and vegetables with every meal and snack

If you add a fruit or a vegetable to every meal and snack, you’re much closer to meeting your daily requirement. It’s not as difficult as you might think. You can have fruits or veggies for your snacks. Add an apple or berries to your breakfast. A smoothie can have as many as three servings of fruit or vegetables. Sneak in some spinach or kale in your smoothie with the fruits.

Add greens to lunch and dinner and you’re well on your way to getting the nutrients your body needs each day.

#3 Resolve to try a new fruit or vegetable each month

Scientists have found that people who eat a variety of fruits and vegetables are healthier. Many people become stuck in a rut with their fruits and vegetables. When you add a new one to your diet each month, you’re broadening your nutritional horizons.

#4 Resolve to switch to whole grain bread

Swap your white bread for whole grain bread, possibly a gluten-free bread (brown rice, millet, corn based). This is an easy change to make and it’ll add more healthy whole grains to your diet. You can amplify this whole grain change and switch to steel cut oats and brown rice instead of instant oatmeal and white rice. Little changes make a big difference.

#5 Resolve to eat fewer sweets

If you’re like many people you probably have several sugary snacks each day. Resolve to cut back. That may begin by tracking how many snacks you normally eat each day. Cut back to one snack each day or one sugary snack or dessert each week.

#6 Resolve to drink a glass of green tea each day

Green tea has been shown to provide fantastic health benefits. Add a glass of green tea to your day. Drink it in the morning or have a glass in the afternoon. If you’re sensitive to caffeine then don’t drink it in the evening. Green tea does have a small amount of caffeine. Or get decaf green tea and give it a chance.

#7 Resolve to stop eating in the evenings

People often make poor eating decisions in the evening. Drink a glass of water. Find something interesting to do to distract yourself. If you must eat due to hunger, then eat something high in fiber like a banana or whole grain cereal.

As you’re looking forward to your New Year and contemplating resolutions, be specific. Help yourself achieve success by setting specific goals designed to help you lose weight and get healthier. Then fill in specific plans on how to keep those resolutions.