What's so special about it?
I have seen it over and over again. We constantly say things like:
-I'm going to start my diet next month.
-New Year, New Me!
-I'll start cooking at home more next year.
-Ok, that's it, I will be the first one in the gym on Monday morning.
In all seriousness, we can start to change our mindset toward the habits that no longer serve us on a Wednesday at 6:42pm. It's just that we have all been sold on these fresh starts by very creative marketing teams for gyms, diet systems, and other wellness places. They have all been strategically designed to push us towards change on the 1st of the year or the month.
Did you know that gyms get more than 12% of their memberships in the beginning of January? A third of us that sign up don't even make it to the end of January. It's not our fault though!
There is such a big push to improve our health with so much (paid fake) "love and support" at the beginning of the year. All of that love and support comes to an abrupt stop by the second week of January. After they get our money, it feels like we are left on our own to figure it out. The truth is that you don't have to be left alone to figure it out. We just need a plan, supportive community, and accountability.
I had surgery on November 1st and gained a whopping 7 pounds in a month. Between the residual pain and decreased range of motion, my capacity for physical activity was severely limited. I simply couldn't work out or cook the way I wanted to. My metabolism was also starting to slow down. I felt foggy, bloated, tired, and not to mention my face was starting to break out. Imagine if I would have waited until the beginning of the year for that fresh start!? I would have easily put on another 7 pounds and my face would have more spots on them than I could count. As soon as I was able to move just a little bit, I knew I needed a new plan. I fought to get back in the gym, committing to just 30 minutes of light cardio a day until I could do more. I worked to get as close to a gallon of water a day as possible. I even used pre-chopped veggies to help make meal time easier (sorry chef friends). With just those 3 steps, I have dropped those 7 pounds, plus 2 more and have noticed a huge difference with my skin. While that was my personal goal, this is not a message about weight-loss and picture perfect skin. I just wanted to drop you a quick note to let you know there is absolutely nothing special about the beginning of the year! So let's start now. Like, today!
Here are a few ways you can start now, not the beginning of the year!
Jump into an ongoing supportive community, online (or irl)!
Create your own calendar with a plan that focuses on working out or learning something new in the kitchen. Invite friends and family so that you can hold each other accountable.
Aim for at least half of your body weight (in ounces) of room temperature spring water or warm lemon ginger water if you need a boost to get your day going.
Need more help putting together a plan you can actually follow? Let me know!
Happy Cooking,
Chef A'Donna
