By Deanna DeSimone, certified precision nutrition coach, yoUBwell
Resolution: Eat healthier
1. Baby steps: Don’t try to change everything at once, or you’ll be setting yourself up for disappointment. Daily health decisions add up over time.
2. Identify your SMART goals: These are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and timely. For example, “I will pack my lunch four times a week, and eat out once.” “I will add ½ cup of vegetables to my dinner every night.” “I will lose 15 pounds of fat and gain 5 pounds of muscle by June.”
3. Track your progress: Once you identify your goal, decide on method of tracking. I suggest my clients keep a food diary or use a goal-tracking app like Productive-Habit Tracker or Done: A Simple Habit Tracker.
4. Don’t punish yourself: We all slip up, even those of us in the nutrition business. When you fall off course, commit to getting back on course.
5. Reward yourself: If you stick to your habit for a month, reward yourself. Buy a new juicer, get a 30-minute massage, or try a new workout class. You deserve it!
6. Continue seeking inspiration: A Google or Instagram search for “nutritionist recipes” will yield a variety of results. I also suggest “following” fitness instructors and nutritionists on social media if they serve as a reminder of your individual goals