New Year, Same Me!

Let's forget the New Years resolutions, and focus on treating ourselves and our bodies with the love and care they need.

For a lot of people the start of the New Year is about resolutions. Creating goals and plans to become a new version of yourself. A lot of people focus on weight loss, using the number on the scale to determine if they were successful. Then ultimately feel disappointed when they don't reach what they think is the desired outcome.

I hate New Years resolutions. We set these super high expectations for ourselves and usually end up falling flat, because the goals we set are too lofty. The average person abandons their New Years resolution by Valentine's Day.

Instead my friends and I focus on a word of the year. This is a concept we've adopted from one of our favorite podcasts, Abiding Together. The word of the year is about discerning what you are being called to in this new year. Are there things you need to work on, or things you need to leave behind? Rather than setting metrics about what you want to achieve, choosing a tone for the year that you want to follow.

My word of the year is return. For me, 2023 is a homecoming. It's a returning to myself and the healthy habits that make me feel good. This year is not about becoming something I'm not, but rather returning to the person I was created to be. It's about eating more balanced, exercising more regularly, getting outside and taking intentional time for prayer and reflection.

Eating a more balanced diet isn't about the number on the scale for me, it's about nourishing my body so I feel good. I want to be energized throughout my day, so I'm not so exhausted and depleted. I want to fuel my body with the nutrients I need to continue to rock climb and do all the things I set out to do.

Here are some ways I'm trying to eat more balanced this year:

1. Protein

I've noticed that I don't eat enough protein. So, I've been working on ways to incorporate it into my diet. One is protein powder. I will add a scoop to my oatmeal or smoothie to get an additional boost of protein in my system.

Another thing I do it buy pre-grilled chicken. I love the brand that Trader Joes has. All I have to do is add it to my meal. I will incorporate it into salads, wraps and even quesadillas! It's super easy, and doesn't make the mess of raw chicken (yuck).

2. Fruits & Veggies

I've learned I'm a creature of convenience. I will choose whatever is easiest for me to eat or make, and often that means quick snacks. So, I'm trying to be proactive about eating more fruits and veggies. That means I will meal prep at the beginning of the week to make some vegetables I can easily reheat for lunch. I will also buy pre-cut fruit so I don't have to do anything, and can just enjoying. In preparing stuff ahead of time I set myself up for success by having easy options to eat when I need it!

3. Oatmeal

I love oatmeal. It's delicious, warm and comforting. It's also good for you, "oats contain a type of soluble fiber, called beta glucan, which lowers blood glucose and cholesterol levels, thus reducing risk of heart disease and diabetes. Beta glucan also promotes healthy gut bacteria and intestinal health" (Londre, 2021). It's also easy to make! Just pour some water or milk, heat it up and you're set. My go-to right now is Matcha Marketplace. Matcha Marketplace is a specialty food company that combines two SuperFoods Matcha and Whole Grain Rolled oats to make a healthy, and great tasting breakfast! They have a bunch of fun flavors like lemon ginger matcha, cranberry walnut matcha and strawberry matcha (these are just a few)!

4. Tea

Luckily I've never been addicted to coffee. I usually just drink it for the flavor, or if I really need a jolt of caffeine. I'll have coffee on average 2-3 times a week, and I know that's not a lot. However, I do notice that it messes with my stomach and sometimes makes me feel jittery. Lately I've been opting for jasmine green tea. It's delicious and also bursting with antioxidants! Typically I feel overall better when I choose tea over coffee in the morning.

So far choosing healthier options on a more consistent basis has helped me to feel a lot better. It's improved my sleeping habits and overall mood. That's not to say that I don't indulge every now and then, of course I do! I want to experience life to the fullest and that means eating all the donuts, but also getting the nutrients I need to not feeling so sluggish all the time.

2023 is a returning to myself, to the person who is bursting with life and energy, who is confident in the body she's in and can do anything she sets her mind to. It's not "New Year, New Me," it's "time to come home."

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Citations

Londre, R. (2021, October 6). Start your day with Healthy Oatmeal. Mayo Clinic Health System. Retrieved January 30, 2023, from https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/start-your-day-with-healthy-oatmeal#:~:text=Oats%20contain%20a%20type%20of,gut%20bacteria%20and%20intestinal%20health.