
The new year is a time for fresh starts and new beginnings. For many people, that means starting a diet to lose weight. The most common New Year's Resolutions are to have better fitness habits and to lose weight. But unfortunately, most New Year's diets fail, according to Forbes.com, 80% of people ditch their New Year's diets by February. Why is that? Here are six possible reasons.
We set unrealistic goals for ourselves that are impossible to maintain
Does anyone else feel like they set the bar a bit too high? We often look at the long-term and make gigantic expectations that our minds can’t wrap around. We want to wake up early, hit the gym six days a week, and write that book we keep dreaming about; it all sounds great in theory! But in reality, it’s easy to overcommit and end up feeling guilty for not reaching these seemingly unrealistic goals. So don't be too hard on yourself — remember that bite-sized daily steps are often the way to make the biggest impact.
Here are some simple tips to think about when setting and achieving your goals.
1. Break down the goal into smaller, achievable steps. Breaking down a big goal into smaller chunks can make it more manageable and allow you to track your progress.
2. Set deadlines for each step. Setting deadlines creates a sense of urgency and helps you stay focused on completing the task at hand.
3. Reach out for support from family, friends, or professionals if needed. Reaching out for help can provide encouragement when things get difficult and help you stay on track.
4. Stay motivated by celebrating small victories. Celebrating even the smallest of victories can provide a much-needed boost when it comes to achieving your bigger goals.
5. Reflect and adjust as needed to ensure success. Take time to evaluate how far you’ve come and make adjustments if needed to stay on track with your goal.
We try to do too much at once and get overwhelmed
Trying to do too much at once is a recipe for disaster, yet so many of us find ourselves in this situation all too often. It's an easy trap to fall into; we think we can handle added responsibilities and tasks, only to feel like we're walking around with a weight on our shoulders. According to mindtools.com we should aim to have 3 goals we’d like to achieve in six to twelve months. The success of your goals relies on focusing on few tasks at a time. We have to remember that multitasking is not a superpower – however difficult it may be, we must prioritize and accept that some things are just beyond our control. If we don't give ourselves the margin needed for success, we'll always feel overwhelmed – no matter how many superheroes try!
We don't have a plan or structure in place to stick to our diet
Before you tackle the world's most inevitable challenge, dieting, it's important to make sure that you have a plan in place. Otherwise, life just gets in the way - one minute you're meal prepping like a virtuous world-changer and the next minute you've devoured a family-sized portion of pizza! Don't worry - while having structure is essential, there are plenty of ways to stay on track with your health goals. To have lasting success with a diet, it is important to focus on making long-term changes in eating habits rather than short-term fixes. This means creating an individualized plan that is realistic and sustainable for the person’s lifestyle and health goals. Instead of having to think about all the details, you can focus on your goals and let the meal prep company do all the hard work for you. With freshly prepared ingredients delivered directly to your door, it's easy to stay on top of your nutrition plan and reach your weight loss goals in no time.
Plus, knowing that all of your meals are perfectly portioned and designed to help you reach your goals takes a lot of the guess-work out of eating healthy. So don't feel like you have to do it all on your own - let the professionals handle it for you! Find out what motivates and inspires you when it comes to food and don't beat yourself up when life throws an unexpected treat your way. After all, balance is key for any successful diet or lifestyle change.
We give up when we make a mistake or have a bad day
Don't let a bad day or mistake derail your progress! While failure can be disheartening and make us want to give up, know that it's all part of the journey. It's inevitable, so no one should beat themselves up over mistakes they make. They're just part of growing and learning. Everyone experiences "bad days" - why should they become an indication that we aren't cut out for something? Instead, learn from them, dust yourself off and aim to do better next time! Embrace mistakes as opportunities to grow and challenge yourself!
We don't have any accountability or support from others
Sure, we all have high aspirations of success and self-fulfillment, but achieving them can seem impossible when we work independently without input from others or without being held accountable for our progress. Living outside a support network isn't all bad though - at least you don't have to worry about your friends backstabbing you! If our goals are still intact and the desire to reach them is still in our hearts, the only thing missing is some friendly feedback and a swift kick in the rear every now and then. Fortunately there's no shortage of supportive caring people around us - we just need to go out and find them! Keep your ambition alive, stay motivated, and with a little help from compassionate people who understand it's perfectly possible to reach what once seemed far away.
We're not motivated enough to stick with it long-term
We've all been there: setting ambitious resolutions on New Year's Eve (or any time of year, really) only to realize a few weeks later that our brief burst of enthusiasm has petered out. It begs the question - do we lack motivation or are we simply unrealistic with the goals we set? One way to combat this reoccurring pattern is through short-term projects rather than long-term commitments; breaking down larger goals into manageable chunks can help make progress over a sequence of smaller projects more achievable. However, when all else fails, it may be time to accept that sometimes resolutions come in fits and spurts - just try to ride each wave of motivation you get along the journey!
If you can relate to any of the points above, don't worry, you're not alone. A lot of us have been there and we know how tough it is to stick to a diet. But with a little bit of effort and planning, it is possible to make some lasting changes. Just remember to take things one step at a time, set realistic goals, and find someone who will hold you accountable. With that being said, good luck on your journey!









