The year is new and so are you? So my little nephew asked me as he read the few lines I had on Microsoft word. The magic in new beginnings is truly the most powerful of them all: the zeal, the big plans and the vision will have you raring to go. Keeping your weight loss resolutions won’t be easy but with your plans penned in black and white, the positives highlighted and a support group your chances at success will be high.
Often times, resolutions fail because of inadequate preparation. We join the band wagon of weight loss without first checking our lifestyle, challenges, finance, our health. So a scrutiny of our lifestyle with all its hang-ups is necessary. Ask the questions, and answer them honestly.
What triggered you and led to your falling into the rabbit hole in 2021? Was it one single thing or was it a series of things that caused you to stumble? What’s within your control and what’s not? Where do you need the help of a friend, your partner, or a professional? Where have you been lax in your own self-care? Are you ignoring your own minimum standards for living the life you love? Has there been a recent change in your life? Did you change jobs, move, end or begin a relationship?
I find that pen and paper allows me to make sense of things, but if you are leery of seeing your depths in print, send yourself an email and delete ASAP. After you honestly answer these questions with yourself, it’s time to use your answers to build your ladder out of the rabbit hole. By the way, try to complete steps one through six below within a 2 week period.

1. Let’s Talk Goals

Look at the big picture of what you really want (I want to lose weight!).Break it down into simpler short term goals with expected durations for achieving them. Write down your goals both short and long term. Set reasonable targets. You’ll agree that “ I want to wear a size fourteen dress by Valentine day is most likely not to happen when today is 28th of January and my current dress size is 18!.Be a bit methodical; set routine targets- that means targets for daily exercise, sleep, meditation, water and vegetables consumption.

2. What about routines?

Examine your routines and habits. Have you stopped meditating or writing morning pages? Have you stopped preparing your meals and have begun eating out more? Start with your core routines: morning and bedtime. Take note of the first hour of the day and the last and write down a routine to follow.

3. Make a plan for climbing out of the rabbit hole.

Create a plan with some loose yet specific guidelines: write one hour a day four times a week, exercise three days a week, eat 2 cups of vegetables a day, go to lunch with a girlfriend one day a week. Don’t be afraid to write down tiniest of actions you need to take as breaking down a big goal into manageable steps will help ensure your plan is successful. Also, when creating your plan, set at least one step that can be achieved in less than a week. This will allow you to have an early success and build your confidence.

4. Set yourself up for success.

Enlist some help. A coach or mentor. Your best friend. Someone to be accountable to. Yes, prayer counts. Have an honest conversation. Tell your spouse (or any adult living with you that felt the effects of your tumble) that this is YOUR issue (spell it out) but that he can help you and follow up with a specific way. Be vulnerable and straightforward with a statement such as: “When you do X, it makes me feel Y. It’s not your fault that you do X, but I need you to know that it’s a huge trigger for me. Can we try Z next weekend to see if it helps?” Get new sports gear, table ware or a bicycle even. Create an accountability sheet to score yourself daily. Join a weight loss club.

5. Take note of your triggers.

Did you pinpoint your triggers? What can you do to prevent those same things from triggering you into falling down the rabbit hole in the future? Play with both the logical and illogical. Especially note a series of triggers that leads to a fall (for example: a particular time of the month, after a stressful event, after several nights of insomnia, etc.). Noting your triggers allows you to recognize when you are on the edges of another fall.

6. Revisit your goals.

Remember those goals? That guideline? Those baby steps? Write it down – a pen in your hand and paper for the words to flow. Put it somewhere in that sacred space: on a desk, a bulletin board, taped to a wall, propped up against a picture frame. Now, choose a date to begin your work. Don’t push yourself to begin tomorrow, yet don’t let yourself linger into next month. Mark it on your calendar, put a reminder in your phone, tell your best friend so they will help remind you.

7. Do the work  

Things change with time, but time in itself changes nothing.
Get to it. Carry out your plans as you envisioned, making adjustments as you go. However, you must be willing to do the work so that it becomes a part of your weight loss journey. For ignoring the fresh meat pies being shared in the office, reward yourself with the new scented soap you’ve always wanted. When you drop a dress size, go shopping you deserve it!