As we begin a new year, many people are planning their New Year’s resolutions. Many of us, for many years, myself included, make the resolution to lose weight or be healthier. And those are not bad goals, but they are pretty vague, and most importantly different for each person. There is no one size fits all when it comes to health and nutrition. What works for one person, may not work for another. When it comes to watching your nutrition, it is important to focus on foods and meals that works for you: they should help you feel more vibrant, focused, and just good overall.
Various studies have shown that 80-95% of diets fail, with many people re-gaining the same if not more weight than they lost. So the question is, why? Is it lack of willpower? Lack of discipline? The answer is so much more.
When it comes to trying to be “healthy” we each have different needs. For me, as an example, I will never be 100% healthy; I have various auto-immune disorders that will keep me from being truly healthy. But I can do things in my daily life that help me feel better. Exercise and focusing on whole foods with few ingredients is one way to start. However, trying to overhaul it all at once will make your willpower fail and even with discipline, life happens. Take small steps. For me, I started with drinking around 30oz of water right away in the morning. Now I am trying to make sure I bring food along to work, and that I actually eat it rather than going out. By focusing on these small changes, I am more likely to stick to them, and it also helps identify my limiting factors.
The main takeaway is to do what works best for you. That will take time and effort and a lot of trial and error. Do not worry about being perfect. Worry about what makes you feel your best and works with you and your family. Remember: You are not meant to be perfect, you are meant to be real – Suga (BTS).