Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Don't Put All Your Resolutions In One Basket


Lets start off the year being frank. As much as the New Year can seem like a natural time to turn over a new leaf, a lot of resolution making is reactionary. Many of us have been traveling, spending time with family and relaxing a bit more and at a certain point you dont feel that good. What do you when youre feeling blah or worse? Something drastic of course. And drastic doesnt last. Then were back to blah with a dash of failure or frustration, not a recipe for a healthy year ahead.

 I am pro-resolution but with a few important criteria.

  • First, think of the areas in your life that need a tweaking. Make a list of those key subjects. In the coming week, fill in specifics under each heading.
  • Make sure most items on your list are completely realistic
  • However one or two of your goals should make you a little nervous.  
Carolyn introduced me to a campaign called Commitment Day. In 30+ cities across the country people will run a 5K to show their commitment to a healthy lifestyle. Whatever it is, do something today that exemplifies your commitment. As their website says, "this isn't a resolution this is a revolution of you".
Maybe some of the resolutions on my list or Carolyns will spark some ideas.

Fear facing
You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you think you cannot do.” Eleanor Roosevelt
I have been hush, hush about my  makes me nervous goal but earlier this year my book proposal was shopped around. After many we loved it but will pass the good news is that I have a publisher and the goal is to have the finished book completed in March.  This time next year you should be able to purchase my (first) book. This has been a long time coming. And not to worry, there's jitters ahead writing and putting it out there isn't comfortable but I'm excited.

Aid For Others (not in love with term “giving back”)
Early in 2012, Team Foodtrainers participated in Cycle for Survival. This fall, I went to the White House with a fantastic group of dietitians to support Let’s Move and organized a special night, with help from talented friends, to raise money for the Food Bank of NYC for Sandy relief efforts. In 2013, I plan to continue to support Let’s Move. What makes me most proud is that my children are starting to understand the need to lend a hand. I cannot lie, they weren’t jumping for joy to make packages for the firefighters after Sandy but they did it and I’ll nudge them to keep doing more. I find nothing gets me out of my head more than shifting the focus to others.

Family Resolutions
I was emailing with a friend who works at Pirates Booty and she mentioned the concept of family resolutions. I love this idea. One thing Im a stickler for is table manners. Nora Ephron said in I Feel Bad About My Neck that one job of parents is to teach children, and Im paraphrasing, which fork is the salad fork. If I can raise kids who put their napkins on their lap, without constant reminders, and dont repulse others with their utensil skills Id feel a degree of success. And after Sandy and the droughts and all the crazy weather of 2012, we have take global warming more seriously. As a family, we can start with being better with our reusable super market bags.

Fitness
For the first time in years I dont have the race bug; its not my focus right now. I want to get myself out there skiing more, were in Vermont each weekend and its easy for me to lag behind and write, snowshoe or cook. This year I vow to occasionally leave the kitchen messy and just go. I have a silly fitness goal too. Where I take spinning classes theres a torque board that rates your performance. You have a choice whether to be included and I have, until now, chosen not to participate. Oh and my achy body needs foam rolling. This will be the year of the foam roller.

Blog
While I love pushing the envelope with posts, I also love you pushing back. I now post twice a week and feel this way you have time to read and comment. Keep the comments coming in 2013; I look forward to many interesting food and weight-related healthy debates. A bunch of you have emailed asking about the Cooking Homework feature. I will bring that back. Carolyn mentioned that in 2012 she spent more time in the kitchen, it 2013 she hopes to get more experimental. I could use a little freestyle cooking too.

In a recent NYT article, Seinfeld mentioned he's constantly tweaking his material; I feel that way with habits and goals but  its so easy to get bogged down in a routine. I was reminded this year how important travel is to reshuffle the deck and remove distractions. 2012 included a fishing and snorkeling trip to Belize, skiing in Jackson Hole and camping and biking in Yellowstone and the Tetons. Carolyn listed make weekends more into weekends to relax and turn off the phone. Whether its at home or away, we all need to find a way to really unwind and unplug and I realize as I sit on my computer staring at the snowy trees thats hypocriticalthats what the resolutions are for.
What’s on your list? What goal or resolution makes you a little uneasy? Which habit do you feel you can be more consistent with/that makes you feel your best? Any fitness or family resolutions? Can’t wait to hear.
13 is my lucky number and though I have no knowledge where numerology is concerned. I’m excited for the year ahead.


24 comments:

  1. Yep, this post reminds me that one of my goals this year (which I've already started working on) is to focus on quality over quantity when it comes to blogging, and to being an RD overall. Rather than working hard to get MORE clients, I want to work hard to make those I have already very successful and make sure they know I care about their success and future. With the blog, I hope to post less and take more time responding to comments and researching material. It's a challenge that I will enjoy, and already have.
    Happy new year to you Lauren!!

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  2. Love, what my dad used to say, "less is more" I have found that approach has worked well with Foodtrainers. When I try to do too much/overschedule that's when things slip through the cracks. Hope to meet in person in 2013, are you doing any conferences or just "wedding" conferences?

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  3. I love the idea of family resolutions and the "making weekends more into weekends" tip really resonated with me because I usually work & blog over the weekend, which doesn't leave much time for anything else. That could definitely use some consistency! Wishing you a happy and prosperous 2013 !!

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  4. I liked Carolyn's weekend comment too, It's easy to get trapped by work and technology and what I struggle with is I love writing and tweeting but it almost takes a conscious decision to stop and go outside and relax...

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  5. Funny, I have fitness and weight loss goals, but my #1 resolution is pushing the envelope and facing fear.
    I love your posts in 2012, and many resolutions were met and still live on as an everyday lifestyle. I had my kids write their own 2013 goals because I wanted them to push through some uncharted areas in their lives. Thanks for making us better, healthier and more aware in 2012. Can't wait to see what your 2013 blog brings...

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  6. Love your goals Lauren & looking forward to our book publication-huge congrats! That's actually one of my goals-not necessarily a big book, but maybe an e-book...Love the family resolution goal & I'd love to do some volunteer work together as a family this year. And, one more goal (I have the hiking bug after my Grand Canyon trek) is to make it to the top of Mt Whitney this fall. Happy New Year & looking forward to more Foodtrainers envelope pushing in 2013!!

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  7. First off, Happy New Year! :)
    I love the idea of a family goal as well. Such a great idea!
    I am so excited for you and your book!! I know it will be amazing! I love your blog and always get such great insight! I know your book will be no different!

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  8. I ran a 5k this morning, but almost stayed home because it is icy and 5 degrees and I am lazy. I'm so glad I did it. I feel as though I'm facing this new year with anxiety, but I'm not sure why. Congratulations on the book deal!

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  9. Love your goals and have always loved your blog! 13 has always been my lucky number (born on 1/13) so I am VERY excited for this year. I have decided to put the business idea on the back burner and I have a new venture developing... our first baby BOY is expected this spring :-)

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  10. A book - how exciting!! I already can't wait to buy it : ) And I love the idea of cooking homework. This was a big year for me in terms of cooking at home and I'd love to keep trying new things in the kitchen. I just got a juicer, which will help me with one of my new years resolutions to drink more green juice!

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  11. Oh my, a whole new world just opened up to you. Glad we "met" in 2012.

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  12. What a great resolution, have a child (I know not that easy). Happy 13 to you for sure. Thanks for all the support. Love boys :)

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  13. but what better way to counter anxiety? I think sometimes anxiety is a precursor to change...let's see Caron.

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  14. from your mouth Kristen. Thank you and a happy and healthy (despite your darn foot) new year to you too. Maybe swanky BF gets a new "name" just saying.

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  15. did I miss Grand Canyon trek? Family volunteering sounds great, I'm looking at trips just have to figure it out.

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  16. adore that you had your kids write their goals, how old are they? Look forward to facing fear and sharing stories, sounds like a good year to me.

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  17. So so happy for you and your upcoming book. I know how hard the whole process is (hence why I don't and probably will never have a book) and really admire you for being successful!


    13 is my lucky number. I was born on the 13th!


    Happy New Year Lauren. See you on Thursday.

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  18. I tend to think I would buy your book for everyone I know. 13, interesting, what month ameena? See you at RT

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  19. Andrea@WellnessNotesJanuary 2, 2013 at 5:37 AM

    Happy 2013!



    A big congrats on the book deal!



    I miss skiing (and it just isn't feasible for us at the moment), Enjoy the slopes for me! :)

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  20. Happy 2013 Andrea, miss you (ha). Look forward to idea and recipe sharing in the year ahead. I really need to appreciate the access to mountains versus being chained to dishwasher/washing machine...balance, right?

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  21. Yaaaay book!
    I will join you in the foam roller resolution. I will stick to my cultish spinning gym without a torque board, however. (Just the name torque board sounds like a torture device to me!) My other resolution is to use my reading glasses so I don't get preventable headaches. Sometimes it's the little things!

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  22. No pain, no gain my Meg. It's amazing how many times I feel I have lots of resistance/speed and the #'s make me work harder (I am being annoying I know). We'll agree on foam rolling and meditation.

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  23. First of all congratulations on your book,yay :). Great post for the new year. Aid for others always a great way to live. Sometimes something that seems small to us can be huge to someone else. I wish you a happy and healthy new year and I hope it's just a great year for you and yours. I will continue to try to eat healthier, exercise more and just continue this love affair called life. :)

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  24. "love affair called life" what are you some sort of poet? I wish you the best too.

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