Don't get dragged into the New Year weight loss trap

Photo by gn dim on Unsplash

It is that time of year again.  Where everyone starts thinking about their resolutions for next year, and inevitably, at the top of most peoples list is weight loss. It is the number one resolution made by Americans almost every single year.

Many of us have started each new year with hope, and excitement at "losing the weight once and for all!" and becoming "the new you!" and with the hope that if we could just be skinny the rest of our life is just going to magically line up.

Maybe we are still caught in the middle of diet mentality, and the almost magical thinking that weight loss is the answer to any of our problems.

Maybe we are a little tired of the diet game, but maybe this one last diet will be the one where we finally lose all our weight and never ever gain it back.

Inevitably we set ourselves up to start the cycle of dieting, weight loss, weight gain, dieting, weight loss, weight gain, etc. over and over and over again.  All year round, until the next year where we will make the same resolution to lose the weight once and for all.

So how can we avoid getting stuck in this same painful, inevitably disappointing, harmful cycle?

Don't make weight loss a focus for your year.  Don't make it a resolution.

Instead focus on resolutions that will expand your health, not drag you down in the name of health.

Examples of non-weight goals are:

-Trying a new vegetable/fruit every month
-Trying a new cooking method
-Trying a new form of movements such as a hip-hop class, rock climbing, pole dancing or aerial yoga.
-Scheduling a self-care day for yourself every week (and honoring it)
-Starting up a meditation or journaling practice
-Reading a new book once a month
-Learning card tricks
-Doing a Pinterest craft once a month
-Taking a language class, or joining a conversational language group

There are so many different things we could be doing for ourselves, and our time that isn't weight-based! Feel the difference in how your schedule and mind open up when you aren't focused on losing weight constantly, and instead focus on caring for yourself, expanding your mind, and trying new things.

So don't limit yourself to your weight loss this year. Focus on what makes you happy feels good and pushes you to your own new heights.

Feel free to share your non-weight loss goal in the comments below!