Tag Archives: Resolutions

“Eat food, not too much, mostly plants.”

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“Eat food, not too much, mostly plants.”

—Michael Pollan

Image from Unsplash by Diana Polekhina

Did you do it again this year? Have you announced to the world or perhaps just spoke quietly to yourself that this is the year you will definitely lose weight and get in better shape? Physical distancing and working from home these past two years have made this goal extra challenging.

The quote above sounds so simple but as we all know it is far from easy. Countless external and internal factors can cause us to slip, slide, and fall off our health habits around mid-February only to promise ourselves to give it another go tomorrow, next week, after a vacation we deserve, or next January.

EXERCISE:

Check out Ju Young Kim’s impressive article entitled Optimal Diet Strategies for weight loss and weight lost maintenance.  I will be happy to send you a copy — email me at barry@dempcoaching.com. If time is limited, just post today’s quote on your fridge.

Friday Review: Resolutions

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Friday Review: Resolutions

What resolutions are you considering for the new year? How resolute are you in keeping them? Here are a few related posts you may have missed.

 

“I think in terms of the day’s resolutions, not the year’s.”

 

 

 

“Most good resolutions start too late and end too soon.”

 

 

 

“How few there are who have courage enough to own their faults, or resolution enough to mend them!”

 

 

 

 

 

“How few there are who have courage enough to own their faults, or resolution enough to mend them!”

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“How few there are who have courage enough to own their faults, or resolution enough to mend them!”

—Benjamin Franklin, a Founding Father of the United States

Image from Unsplash by Adi Goldstein

We can all be a bit judgmental and critical from time to time. When things appear wrong with the world in general or specifically with others in our various communities, it is pretty easy to point the finger at the mistakes and shortcomings we observe.

It is natural to hold our observation up against our own beliefs and values and see those that do not align as bad and wrong.

Most of us, on the other hand, do not look at ourselves with a lens of complete objectivity to see our own shortcomings and faults as worthy of our best efforts to mend them.

EXERCISE:

The next time you point your finger in the direction of the faults of others, consider that there are three fingers in your palm pointing right back at you.

What is one fault that you are resolute to mend in the days and weeks ahead?

 

Most Good Resolutions

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“Most good resolutions start too late and end too soon.”

—Arnold Glasow, 20th Century American Humorist

Image of an empty gym

Image from Unsplash by Inspired Horizons Digital

The New Year’s resolution to be healthy and fit is beginning to hit a speed bump at my fitness club. During the first weeks of the year, the parking lot was full, there were lines for the showers, and far too many soiled towels on the floor.

At the same time, all sorts of treats, including cookies, cakes, and candy were popping up in the kitchen at work, as the new “Salad Warriors” eliminated them from their homes.

Discipline and self-restraint are now waning a bit, and far too many of us are giving in to the comfort foods and warm covers associated with winter.

EXERCISE:

What are the resolutions that you either started too late or ended too soon?

How might you incorporate a more rigorous accountability structure to tackle these priority areas once and for all?

Please consider reading or re-reading Steven Covey’s classic book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People as one of your first steps in this process.

If it came from a plant, eat it

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“If it came from a plant, eat it. If it was made in a plant, don’t.”

-Michael Pollan, Professor, UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism

Image of today's quote

Image from Harmless Harvest

A few weeks ago, at the turn of the new year, millions of people committed for the umpteenth time to live healthier lives. Among the keys to success is the focus on optimal, high-quality nutrition.

In general, the fewer ingredients on the label, the better the choice. Or, choose only those made by Mother Nature herself. A simple way to decrease poor choices is to do the majority of your shopping around the periphery of your market, and avoid the aisles full of items produced in a plant.

EXERCISE:

Consider turning your next shopping trip into a food safari. Bring more tasty, naturally grown foods into your home and body. Reducing or purging many of the packaged items already in your cupboards and fridge will reduce the chances of making poor choices.

 

The Day’s Resolutions

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“I think in terms of the day’s resolutions, not the year’s.”

-Henry Moore, 20th Century British Sculptor and Artist

Image from cakewhiz.com

Why do we do it?

You know what I mean. Why do we make New Year’s Resolutions, knowing darn well that as much as 90% of them are abandoned by the end of February.

Perhaps it is because a year is a pretty long time, and it’s hard to set out on a journey whose goal is so far off. It almost guarantees that obstacle and barriers will slow us down or stop us completely.

Today’s quote is like the one about eating an elephant one bite at a time, or that every journey begins with a single step. Perhaps daily resolutions are the way to achieve what we deeply desire—one day at a time.

EXERCISE:

Where and on what priority issues would making 365 daily resolutions help you make 2017 your best year yet?

Why You Started

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“Remember Why You Started.”

-Author Unknown

Image from family-180.com

Image from family-180.com

We are now almost two months into the new year, which is a good time to check in, revisit resolutions and key goals, and your most desired intentions.

How are things going?

See if you are exceeding expectations, are satisfied, somewhat satisfied, a bit stalled, or even at a dead stop.

Did you do what many people do by simply taking on too many things at one time? If you did, consider paring down the list to the one thing you most desire, and remind yourself why it is your top priority.

Examine this goal with your head, your heart, and your gut, to rekindle its importance and value. Some might suggest “your why should make you cry.”

EXERCISE:

With this renewed commitment in place, please devise an unstoppable and fully guaranteed plan of action in which you will use all the resources and support structures available to remember why you started, and to finish strong.

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is a habit.”

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Image of hands holding up letters of "Excellence"“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is a habit.”

– Socrates

Over 95% of New Years Resolutions never come to pass. Inertia keeps things much the same. When change does come, it is often from outside us … and it is often unwelcome.

Exercise:

Here’s a simple three-step process to bring the discipline of personal excellence into your life:

1. List two or three things you really, really desire.

2. Identify the vital behaviors that are essential to achieving these desires.

3. Engage in these behaviors every day for a minimum of three weeks. Design as many social and structure supports as you can, in order to help you stay the course.