Every Day is a New Opportunity

Are you one of the millions who made a New Year’s resolution last month? Here we are a month later. How have your resolutions fared? Unfortunately, even with the best of intentions about 20% of people go back to their old ways within a month. Mid-way through the year it’s likely that over 50% of those who made resolutions have given up on their goals.

BUT... Just because your plans didn’t play out as you had hoped, that doesn’t mean you throw in the towel for the rest of 2015!

On a Today Show segment I saw once, nutrition and health expert Joy Bauer referenced a theory I want to share. While the theory Joy discussed focused on weight loss, I think the concept really applies to any goals or resolutions you may have made.

“In order to have long-term success at weight loss, weight management and maintaining a healthy lifestyle you need to FORGIVE SLIP UPS!”

Joy continues, “Nobody eats perfectly all of the time. Every one of the weight loss superstars in the Joy Fit Club experienced slip-ups and fell off their plan from time to time. The difference this time was, instead of letting one high-calorie splurge or binge spiral out of control into a streak of overeating, they learned to get right back on track at the next meal or the very next day. Remember, nobody gains weight from one rich dinner or a single slice of cake - the real trouble starts when you allow an isolated splurge to snowball into an all-out eating frenzy. Take it one meal at a time, and learn to forgive yourself; every dieter veers off-plan from time to time, but the successful ones know how to keep those occasional lapses contained.”

Perhaps your goal was to simply eat healthier, exercise more, get more sleep, etc. If you weren’t as successful yesterday, last week, or this morning, as you would have liked to have been, forgive yourself, move on and start anew!

My transition to a healthier lifestyle was a gradual change that began in the spring of 2006. That’s 8 years folks! Meaningful, lasting change DOES NOT happen overnight. With each modification I made to my life, I felt better both physically and mentally, my commitment intensified and I was able to make even more improvements in my health and lifestyle. You would be amazed how success with one small change energizes you to make more.

“Success is the sum of small efforts - repeated day in and day out.” ~ Robert Collier