A quarter of people in the U.S. still have extra weight that they gained in 2021. While they say they plan on losing it, most don’t intend to do anything about it before the end of the year. In fact, 40 percent of people consider the end of the year to be a write-off and have no intention of changing their habits until the new year. You don’t need January to happen to make better habits.
Sixty percent of people who intended to give up healthy habits had already done so, saying mid-November was their breaking point. With the holidays coming, most estimated that they would gain five and a half pounds before the new year. Thirty-seven percent said holiday food was too big of a temptation to limit themselves.
The majority of people, 63 percent, said they intended to make drastic changes in the new year and had resolutions. They looked at the New Year as a new beginning, and the main goals were to lose weight, eat healthier, save money and exercise more.
The study results show that people want to change, but the holidays are hard. They also show that most of us are “off the wagon” regarding healthy habits. Our team never wants to finger-wag. We understand that real life isn’t always about “sticking to the health plan no matter what.” Life happens. And the holidays should be fun. No one should feel guilty for enjoying food. But there are so many ways to stay healthy during the holidays. If you’ve let your healthy habits fall by the wayside since Thanksgiving, it’s not too late to get back on track. And you don’t have to make drastic changes to have a healthy, fun, happy holiday season!
One of the largest reasons people fail to meet their health goals is that their aim is too high or too vague. If you make a plan that is very difficult or ambiguous, it is hard to stick to. Adding in the temptation of the holidays makes giving up almost inevitable.
Set small specific goals for yourself this holiday season. Make daily or weekly resolutions. Plan to eat fresh vegetables daily. Or make a resolution to avoid candy or foods that are available all year round. Stick to enjoying the special things! Eat the foods you love in moderation, and don’t feel guilty.
You can also set goals to move every day. You don’t have to commit to a marathon to stay active. The holiday season often promotes a lazy lifestyle where we sit around watching movies and eating. But getting outside for a walk or staying on top of chores can keep you active throughout December.
You might be someone who likes starting a diet in January. That’s great! But, you can begin little healthy habits that work any time. If they are manageable and don’t intrude on your life, you may find they stick, unlike a New Year’s resolution.
