How to Create a New Year’s Diet and Stick to it

2021 is right around the corner and new year resolutions are underway!

This can be an anxious time for many, as we race the clock trying to set goals that will change our lives for the better. Health goals; particularly weight loss goals, are usually first on the list, followed by better spending habits, learning new skills or quitting bad habits. Whatever your resolution is, it will require much dedication and commitment. Making a healthy new year’s resolution is one thing, sticking to it is a totally different ballgame.

In this article we will discuss how to create and stick to a healthy new year’s diet. 

New Year’s (Diet), New you

Creating a new year’s resolution diet requires structure, planning and self-discipline. I don’t like to use the term “diet”, so let’s use the phrase healthy eating habits or lifestyle. A diet is temporary and leaves room to resort back to unwanted eating habits. With this realization, it’s important to focus on healthy habits vs racing the clock to lose weight rapidly. As you begin to drink more water, eat more fruits and vegetables and get active; the body will naturally shed those extra pounds and bring you back to your ideal weight. There is nothing wrong with taking weight loss supplements like CLA and Garcinia Cambogia, but the end goal should be sound health, not 20 pounds lighter. Your weight loss will be the result of healthy eating and healthier lifestyle choices. 

Small Changes First 

It feels good to attack your goals head on and leaving no room for cheat days, but in all reality, this is not a realistic approach. If you have been eating junk food most of your life, not drinking water and haven’t worked out since high school, doing a complete 360 overnight will not only shock your body but it will make your new lifestyle that much harder to maintain. It’s not easy-going cold turkey and although it can be done, it’s always best to take baby steps when embracing new lifestyle changes in your life. 

Plan your New Year Diet

They say when you fail to plan, you plan to fail. An organized and articulated plan always makes it easier to reach your new year’s lifestyle goal. With this approach, you will have a clear blueprint of how you will get the desired results you seek.

The best approach would be to write out your goal, for example “I want to eat healthier and lose 20 lbs”, then underneath that, write the action steps you have to take to get there.

Your plan can look something like this: 

New Year’s Resolution – Healthier Eating (shed 20lbs)

1. Drink 2L of water a day
2. Do a 10-day detox challenge
3. Have a Meal Replacement Shake every day to assist weight loss goals
4. Make a healthy grocery list before heading to the grocers
5. Meal prep and bring lunch to work – No fast food
6. Take the steps instead of the elevator 3x a week
7. Eat a sweet fruit when I crave sweets
8. Take my supplements every day without fail
9. Find community support online or amongst friends and family 

These are just a few things you can add to the list. The key is to break down the goal into small action steps, giving yourself at least 2-3 weeks to master each. Once a particular step (i.e. drinking more water) has become commonplace, then you can move onto the next goal. The trick here is to master one step before moving on to the next. Small and steady steps always yield more lasting and favourable results. 

All in all, never rush your new year’s resolution. Always take the time to plan, organize and execute in doable action steps at a pace comfortable for your life. Some of us may be able to do more than others and that’s perfectly ok. We are all at different places in our lives with different levels of responsibility and time, so do not worry about what others are doing or have achieved already. What matters is sticking to your plan and not beating yourself up about it if you don’t. There is always a new day for you to recalibrate and try again until you get it right. Start small, with the easiest actionable step and stick with it for 2 weeks before moving on to the next.

You can do it! We here at Noor believe in you and are rooting for you every step of the way!

Happy New Year!