The number one New Year’s resolution is to lose weight, followed closely by eating healthier and exercising more. It is no surprise when you step on the scale at the end of December – the month is known for yummy foods and events – you groan at the higher number and resolve to do better. Most people try adjusting their eating habits and go to the gym for the first two to three weeks of the New Year. Then they slowly slide back into their familiar routines.

Weight loss can be achieved by eating less and exercising more. Simple right? Wrong! Everyone knows what to do to succeed, but most people are not. Why is this? Weight loss is tightly connected to your thoughts and attitude about food and exercise. We all have a relationship with food and exercise. If you are going to be successful, you need to look at this relationship carefully. Do you eat when you are stressed out? Do you eat in front of the TV? Does food give you comfort? Do you eat when you are bored? What do you really think about exercise? Do you despise sweating and looking like a fool at the gym? Is it too expensive to buy a gym membership? Answering some of these questions will give insight into why weight loss has not worked. If you don’t like running on the treadmill, you will find excuses to avoid it. If you binge-watch 2-3 episodes on Netflix every night and eat the entire time, you may find it difficult to stop the mindless eating.

Some programs focus on changing habits surrounding weight. Weight Watchers and Noom are known for eating everyday foods and focusing on why you are eating what you are eating. They work to make small adjustments in your life that build new food habits. Both programs are easily accessible and give you support along your journey. Weight Watchers has weekly meetings to weigh in and learn new tips and tricks for the upcoming week. Their success is having accountability on the scale and teaching healthier eating. They provide a community of support. Noom dives into changing habits by sending you daily suggestions or things to think about. Their focus is to break down your thinking about food to identify why you eat when you do and what to change when you are triggered to eat. It also has an easy-to-follow guide to lead you to healthier food choices. Both programs center on making lifestyle changes instead of being labeled a “diet.”

Exercise can help speed up weight loss. It also makes you feel better. Unfortunately, many of us do not schedule exercise in our daily routines. If it is not on the calendar, it will not happen. There are hundreds of excuses to avoid exercising. The key to success is finding an activity you like and someone to join you. What exercises do you enjoy? There are endless options: walking, yoga, tai-chi, swimming, lifting weights, etc. Choose one that is not overwhelming and invite a friend to join you. You may be tempted to sleep in and skip the workout if you are the only one going. However, you are more likely to go when someone else counts on you.

Weight loss is possible for everyone. The first step is believing that you can change. This shift in your lifestyle will leads to a healthier and happier you. Be obsessed with the journey every day until the new habits are second nature. This will lead to permanent results.

Looking for more ways to stay healthy? Talk to your local Hartig Drug Pharmacist today!