4 Unhealthy New Years Resolutions and What to Do Instead
It’s that time of year again. Maybe you’re feeling guilty about having over-indulged over the holidays or came up shy of reaching your goals in 2019 and now comes the time where we are encouraged to use the beginning of a new year to start fresh with a new years’ resolution.
Our bodies and health seem to be the most common area of focus for our new years’ goals, with the holy grail of resolutions seeming to be to lose weight.
Unfortunately, many of the ways we are being sold in mainstream media to achieve this goal can actually be detrimental to our health, and dangerous in some cases.
I’ve put together a list of some unhealthy resolutions and what to do instead to create lasting and sustainable change in 2020.
Weight Loss Supplements
There is no magic pill you can take to lose weight. Many companies will try to market their products that way, but it’s simply not true. Unfortunately, many products advertised as promoting weight loss actually rely on laxative effects. At best, you might end up with a bought of diarrhea, but some products can lead to more serious side effects such as increased heart rate, high blood pressure, anxiety, insomnia, kidney problems, liver damage, and rectal bleeding. Yikes!
WHAT TO DO INSTEAD: Focus on eating nutrient-rich food and exercising. Adding a multivitamin to your daily routine can also help support your weight loss efforts, but always consult with a doctor before adding any supplements into your routine.
2. Juice or Liquid Diet Cleanses
A juice or liquid cleanse may seem like a quick and achievable way to promote health in the new year. Many cleanses boast claims about weight loss and clearing of toxins within the body. However, many cleanse protocols include little to no protein, high sugar, and very low-calorie intake. This can lead to impaired immune function as your body doesn’t have adequate protein to repair and build white blood cells, as well as headaches and fatigue from low blood sugar. Liquid cleanses also don’t satisfactorily turn off your body’s hunger cues, and may actually lead to an increase in consumed calories.
WHAT TO DO INSTEAD: Try creating a lasting change by beginning to introduce whole (unprocessed) and organically sourced food into your diet. Making the long term shift to avoid pesticides and unnecessary additives goes a lot further than any juice cleanse in terms of detoxifying the body and will supply the necessary macro and micro nutrients your body needs.
3. Suddenly Exercising Everyday
Going from 0-7 all of the sudden with your exercise regime is an easy way to get injured, create burn out, and ultimately put you back on the couch. Your body needs time to build and repair muscle and to adjust to a new activity.
WHAT TO DO INSTEAD: Start with a goal of 2-3 times a week and build on that once you’re locking your new routine down consistently. Listen to what your body is telling you and create small goals to achieve each week.
4. Cutting Calories and Dieting
Skipping meals and cutting calories too low can actually have the opposite effect from what you’re trying to achieve. Your body gets fooled into thinking it’s starving, slows your metabolism and begins to work to store fat.
You’re also much more likely to indulge in unhealthy choices if you reduce your intake too much.
WHAT TO DO INSTEAD: Work with a health professional to determine the right amount of calories your body needs to function optimally and build a plan to create a sustainable calorie deficit.
All in all, it’s best to focus on creating lasting change. Play the long game and set realistic and achievable goals from a place of positivity. Allow room for mistakes, flexibility, and most importantly enjoy the process and be kind to yourself. You’re more likely to keep up with your goals if you’re your own biggest cheerleader.
Remember that each day is a new day and you don’t have to wait until the next new year to set a goal and intention. There is so much pressure this time of year, so let’s make one of our new years resolutions to do 2020 with ease.