New Year’s Eve. Fireworks exploding, champagne flutes clinking, and that inevitable question looming: “What are your New Year’s Resolutions?”
For many of us, the answer is the same every year: “Lose weight.”
But let’s be real, those gym memberships usually gather dust by February, and that “clean eating” phase rarely lasts longer than a week. But the guilt lingers! Why live like that?
This year, I’m ditching the drastic measures and focusing on sustainable changes to build a life I love. Here are 5 realistic New Year’s Resolutions that I’m committing to continue as habits in the coming year. They have helped me lose weight, improve my mood and generally make my life more enjoyable. Join me!
5 Enjoyable New Years Resolutions To Help Your Weight Loss Journey:
1. Master the Art of Emotional Regulation:
Let’s be honest, emotional eating is a real thing. Stress, boredom, sadness – they all have a way of leading us straight to the fridge.
This year, let’s work on identifying our emotional triggers. When you’re feeling down, what do you do now that the pint of Ben & Jerry’s has lost its appeal? Here are some ideas that have helped me:
- Go for a walk: Get those endorphins pumping! As my family says, ‘Touch grass!’. Being outside is the fastest mood reset for me.
- Voice notes a friend: Check in with a friend you haven’t had time to reach with a quick voice note. It’s less pressure than a phone call, lifts my spirits, and has started some regular exchanges with dear friends I’d lost touch with through my pregnancy and early motherhood years.
- Journal your feelings: Writing things down can help you process your emotions…My journal entries mostly turn into lists of ways to conquer the issue. I’m sure a therapist would have something to say about that, but it helps to put pen to paper to stop the swirling thoughts.
- Practice mindfulness: Spend a few minutes each day focusing on your breath and grounding yourself in the present moment…I know, I know…but seriously! I’ve started doing this as a nightly ritual and it is such a nice decompression from the day. I fall asleep so fast now!
2. Find Your Fitness Flow:
Dreading the gym? You’re not alone.
The key is to find an activity you actually enjoy. Personally? I’m a neighborhood walk girlie. I love putting on a podcast and toodling around the ‘hood while I soak up some Vitamin D.
Whether it’s dancing, hiking, swimming, or a hot girl walk, make exercise something you look forward to squeezing in your day.
- Set realistic goals: If you’re a girlie that gets a dopamine hit from smashing goals, then start small and gradually increase the intensity and duration of your workouts. Get yourself a calendar and some gold stars to celebrate your accomplishments!
- Make it a Family Affair: Having a shared sport or physical habit is a great way to incorporate healthy habits into family bonding. We like a good walk in the park, toodle around the hood, and tennis game.
- Make it a social event: Join a local sports league or take a group fitness class. Pickleball anyone?
3. Tea Time Transformation:
Remember those afternoon snack attacks? This year, let’s swap them for a soothing cup of tea. As a bonus, my smallest daughter loves tea and has loved doing this ritual with me.
- Explore different varieties: From calming chamomile to energizing green tea, there’s a flavor for every mood.
- Add a touch of sweetness: A squeeze of lemon, a drizzle of honey, or a sprinkle of cinnamon can elevate your tea-drinking experience.
- Create a relaxing ritual: Find a quiet spot, put on some calming music, and savor each sip…I’m going to be honest, a quiet spot is hard to come by in my house. But I find a spot where I won’t be jumped on by a kid or a dog and take a moment to soak up the warmth from the mug in my hands.
4. Prioritize Protein:
Protein is essential for weight loss. More than that, it keeps you feeling full and satisfied, helps build and maintain muscle mass, and prevents fits of hanger.
- Incorporate protein into daily diet: Think eggs for breakfast, chicken or fish for lunch, and Greek yogurt or lentils for dinner.
- Snack smart: Choose protein-rich snacks like meat sticks, seeds, or a hard-boiled egg.
- Get creative in the kitchen: Experiment with new protein sources like tofu, tempeh, and beans. I leave this to my husband to cook. If a small liberal arts school is good for anything, its good for teaching a man how to make tofu.
- Old Faithful: Of course, when all else fails…Go for the protein shakes!
5. Practice Self-Compassion:
Weight loss is a journey, not a race. Even if it was a race- it would be a marathon. And, no marathon course has ever had a straight path or only gone up! Can you imagine? There will be setbacks along the way. Just remember, that’s part of your personal course design and keep on movin’ and groovin’.
- Celebrate your successes: Acknowledge and appreciate your accomplishments, no matter how small.
- Forgive yourself for slip-ups: Everyone has off days. Don’t let one bad meal derail your progress.
- Focus on overall well-being: Affirmations and meditations! Remember that weight loss is just one part of a healthy lifestyle. I find that it comes naturally when I’m thoughtful about incorporating these healthy, happy habits.
The Bottom Line:
This year, let’s ditch the all-or-nothing mentality and focus on sustainable, long-term changes. These 5 resolutions are just a starting point. Find what works for you and create a life with habits that you can actually enjoy!
And remember, this is a journey of self-discovery. Celebrate your progress, embrace the challenges, and most importantly, be kind to yourself along the way. This is your one wonderful life you’re living! Enjoy it!
Disclaimer: This blog post is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Please consult with your healthcare provider before making any changes to your diet or exercise routine.
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