Four Reasons to Start Your New Year’s Resolution Early
Special to The Truth
Chances are, if you’re
contemplating a New Year’s resolution, shedding those extra
pounds is at the top of your list, according to a Marist
Poll.
But the best time to make
a weight loss commitment is sooner rather than later,
according to Pamela Peeke, PhD, chairman of the Jenny Craig
Science Advisory Board, who is sharing four good reasons to
make a pre-New Year’s resolution.
Here are her insights to
consider, and, if you add the help of Jenny Craig’s Rapid
Results, you can lose up to 16 pounds in the first four
weeks (average weight loss was 11.6 pounds for those who
completed the studies), making it a great way to start an
early weight loss resolution.
1: You’ll Love Your
Holiday Photos. Whether work party snapshots or the
chronicling of special moments spent with family and
friends, the holidays are loaded with photo ops. But how
often have you avoided pictures because you didn’t feel good
about being in front of the camera?
“A common refrain we hear
from members is that they avoided having pictures taken of
themselves because they weren’t happy with their weight,”
says Carrie Elkins, division manager for Jenny Craig
Anywhere.
By making a commitment
now, you can feel healthier and more confident during the
holidays -- and have the photos to remember those moments.
2: You’ll Be More
Proactive and Procrastinate Less. Let’s face it: If you know
you want to lose weight but are waiting until January to
start, you may just be delaying the inevitable. Waiting can
set you up for procrastination, and procrastination can
actually be harmful, according to the Association for
Psychological Science, causing people higher levels of
stress and lower well-being. Resolve to start losing weight
now before the holiday madness begins and while you have the
drive.
“Motivation is key when it
comes to preparing the psyche for any important behavior
change,” says Peeke.
3. Starting Now Means a
Different Resolution in January. Beginning your weight loss
journey now can give you the confidence to tackle a
different resolution in January. So, make a new New Year’s
resolution! Use the motivation gained by following through
on your weight loss goal to fuel your next challenge.
4. The Time is Right. For
many Americans, the holiday season starts with Halloween.
That’s three months of potential overindulgence. In fact,
the average American starts to gain weight around
Thanksgiving, with weight gain peaking around the December
holidays or the New Year and it can take up to five months
to lose it, according to Cornell University’s Food & Brand
Lab. If you can adopt healthy habits before the holidays,
you may just counteract these effects to gain less or even
maintain your weight during the holidays.
So instead of waiting
until 2019 to start making changes, get a head start on your
resolution and your journey to better health.
Courtesy StatePoint |