New Year Resolutions: Overcoming Weightloss Obstacles #newyearsresolution #weightloss

It's a brand new year and we're off to a fresh start again... 2017! Happy New Year to everyone, now what's your new years resolution?! Is it one of the typical one's that many of us are continuously failing at?! Mine is to eat healthier, and cook more vegetarian meals at home. With that said, I would like to drop more weight because I've been yo-yo-ing between 190-195 lbs. My ideal weight would be 130 lbs, but I'd be super happy with 150 lbs. There's plenty of obstacles that I've faced along the way, and have come up with a list of the common one's to help all of us battle similar struggles.

I hate to exercise

Yes, I've said it many times that I have to exercise, but keep in mind that theirs plenty of forms of exercise out there. It doesn't mean that you have to spend every day at the gym, it just means that you have to get off your ass and move. When it comes down to it, you need to work in about 4% of your 24-hour day to the cause.


SOLUTION: There has to be something that you enjoy doing. Dancing? Swimming? Walking? Biking? Cleaning? Spend the next month trying out a bunch of exercises to find out what you like. Have fun experimenting until you find your new passion. One thing that I find very helpful... update your music playlist on a regular basis. I like to dance around the house cleaning to my favorite tunes, and then dance some more while holding my toddler.

I have an injury that prevents me from doing certain kinds of exercise

Lots of people have knee problems, and back problems, and other issues that can prevent them from doing certain exercises. Keep in mind that there's plenty of exercises out there that are lower on the scale when it comes to impacting the joints. There's plenty of ways to still get moving!

SOLUTION: First, make sure you check with your doctor before trying any type of new exercises. Your injury type will determine what you can and can't do, but walking or swimming is often an exercise that most people can do. Many people with knee problems may benefit from a stationary bike... I have used one in the past, which has helped with the knee issues. I also enjoy yoga, which have helped with my anxiety and back pain. Doing yoga while taking care of a toddler is the ultimate workout!

I can't afford a gym membership

Not all gyms are expensive, but I totally get that many of you hate the gym!

SOLUTION: If the gym is too pricey for you, or you know that you're not going to go at all, then there's plenty of other options out there. Check out some fun workout videos online, as most companies will give you a preview before buying. Once you have an idea of what you want to do, there's no problem dishing out a few bucks for a workout dvd. Want another alternative? Get moving with the Wii fitness... that used to be one of my favorites. We now own the PS4 with the camera, so we can have fun dancing around to a game with friends.

I don't have time

Who does? That's just an excuse... don't give me that crap! By using this excuse, you're trying to justify not exercising. Even the busiest of people can make time... take the stairs on your way to and from work. Stand while taking the bus... get off a couple stops early so that you have to walk. On your lunch break, go for a walk! If you have an office job, purposely get up to get stuff from the printer.

SOLUTION: Try scheduling your exercise... make an appointment in your datebook. Program it in on your phone. Yes, we all know that you have a smartphone... even my mother has one! While at work schedule time using Outlook and have it remind you to go for a short walk. If you're like me, your phone is glued to your body... which means it's tracking your daily movements!

I overeat at parties

The holidays just passed, and many of us stuffed ourselves just like the turkey. Yes, there's always tempting foods and drinks at parties, but what did you eat before you went to the party? Let me guess, you went on a starvation diet right before?! It's naturally that you'd go nuts on all the food if you haven't eaten that day.

SOLUTION: Eat your regular meals that day, and have a snack that contains a fair amount of protein before the event. If you have a handfull of nuts prior, or a yogurt, you wouldn't be as tempted to overdo it. One thing that I find to be VERY successful for weightloss, is keeping a food diary. I've done this over and over for many years, and you truly are what you eat. You don't realize how many calories you're eating and drinking, until you keep a record of it. I personally like to use the MyFitnessPal app on my phone, and I plan on testing out the app Pact!


I eat great all day, and then ruin it at night by snacking

This is by far one of my biggest problems to date. I'm famous for nighttime snacking, and I still do it from time to time. Okay... I did it just last night! I tend to snack in the middle of the night instead of before dinner, and it's usually on leftovers.

SOLUTION: Set dinner for the same time daily, and keep out of the pantry. Also, if you're a person who snacks while watching TV... stop! Make sure that when you eat, you're mindful of actually eating. Eat slowly, enjoy the meal. It actually takes time for it to register in the brain that you're full, so don't rush a meal. One way that I try and prevent midnight snacking, is by brushing my teeth and flossing before bed. If I actually floss, I won't want to have to rebrush all over again.

I like sugar too much

I have a sweet tooth at times, especially when I'm PMSing. Sugar can really sabotage your efforts if you're trying to stick to a healthy diet. The key to the sugar thing, is to cut back slowly. Going cold turkey would just backfire.

SOLUTION: Portion control. Keep track of the sugar that you consume, and be mindful especially if you're drinking it. There's healthy alternatives out there, and stevia is a regular staple in my daily diet. If you're craving something sweet, pick up a piece of fruit before anything else!

Eating healthy is expensive

Shut up! Eating out is more expensive than preparing your food from scratch. At times healthier eating could add up to a fair amount, however, there's plenty of ways around it.

SOLUTION: Stick to foods that are in season and a vegetarian diet for a portion of the week is easier on the wallet. For veggies and fruits that are expensive, opt for the frozen version. Foods that are prepared are costly, so if you prepare everything yourself from scratch, you can cook a meal for next to nothing. Make a pot of soup for less than $10 and feed the family for days... click for my lentil soup recipe! I always double or triple a recipe so there's plenty of leftovers - you can triple this recipe for less than $10, really!

No motivation

If you don't have the motivation but you want to find it, then you're at least off to a good start... you are still reading this blog post, aren't you?! What's the reason that you want a healthier life? Once you know the answer to that, that is your focus. For me, it's my daughter... I want to be healthy and here for her for a long time. Therefore, I gotta finally drop the remaining pounds and just be healthier all around. Do you want to be more confident? Do you want to like clothes again? Do you want more energy? I say hell yes to all of those! My next motivational tip... fake it until you make it.  It's the getting started that gets us stuck most of the time. Once you're started, it's much easier to keep going.

So what's your biggest challenge to weight loss? Lets help motivate each other, and keep the conversation going! Good luck everyone, and happy new year.