Now is a great time to make positive changes in your life.

But, if you’re like most people, you might already be feel disheartened about the New Year’s resolution to lose weight.

Statistics show that most resolutions focus on improving health. In 2021, 50% of Americans resolved to exercise more, 48% set a goal to lose weight, and 39% hoped to improve diet.

But how successful will these people be?

Well, of those who made a New Year’s resolution in 2022, 35% kept all of them, 49% kept some, and 16% failed at keeping any.

Regardless of which side of the “success spectrum” you fall, it’s undeniable that making big changes in your life can be challenging.

You see it time and again: Most people start off the new year with a ton of enthusiasm. But as the month drags on and real life starts getting in the way, excitement starts to fizzle and resolutions often fall by the wayside.

It doesn’t have to be that way. With a little support, and perhaps some tweaking of your goals, 2023 may just be the year you stick with your resolution to improve your health!

Be Realistic

A sure way to drop the ball on your resolutions is to set goals that are too lofty or unrealistic.

For instance, if you decided you would give up all processed food and follow a strict Paleo diet in an effort to lose 100 pounds in one year…you’ve already set yourself up to fail. Making sweeping changes like these can be hard for even the most disciplined person.

Instead, rewrite your resolutions as smaller, more achievable goals. Some examples could be:

1. Limit sugary drinks to 5 times per week. Every month, lower that weekly limit by 1 until you’ve reached ZERO after 5–6 months.
2. Follow a modified Paleo diet that includes some healthy grains like rice or quinoa, but eliminates wheat. 
3. Lose 1 pound per week. Celebrate any additional weight that is lost each week. Don’t stress out or get discouraged if the scale doesn’t move every single week.
4. Go for a 20-minute walk, 3 days a week. Each month increase time by 10 minutes until you’re walking for an hour. Increase the number of days you walk as you begin to feel more fit.

And remember, it’s totally OK to change your goals over the months if you find something isn’t working for you. 

Take Supplements that Aid in Weight Loss

Supplements are no magic bullet when it comes to weight loss. But there are certain nutrients that, when combined with a healthy diet and exercise, can help jump start your metabolism and aid in fat burning. Newport Natural Health’s Weight Loss collection is a great way to take advantage of several of these supplements in one convenient purchase.

There are five products in this collection.

Sugar Management is created to help keep blood sugar levels in a healthy range and to support proper glucose metabolism. It contains nutrients like Gymnema sylvestre, chromium, maitake mushroom, and vanadyl sulfate that are clinically proven to support blood sugar, which in turn can help keep weight in check.

A meta-analysis of 21 studies on chromium found that participants who took chromium had small, yet statistically significant, improvements in body fat, body mass index, and weight.1

Maitake mushrooms have been shown to control blood sugar and insulin metabolism by enhancing insulin sensitivity. And Gymnema sylvestre supplementation is associated with reduced polyphagia (extreme hunger), blood glucose (fasting and post-meal), favorable shifts in lipid profiles.2-3

The second product in this collection, Complete Appetite Control, is designed to be an appetite suppressant that helps reduce calorie intake. Along with B and C vitamins, this supplement contains L-phenylalanine, an essential amino acid and one of the building blocks of protein and muscles.

L-phenylalanine works as a weight loss aid in a couple of ways. First, it stimulates the hormone cholecystokinin, which may act as an appetite suppressant in the body.

Second, L-phenylalanine is a precursor to the neurotransmitter dopamine, which is responsible for feelings of pleasure. Keeping dopamine levels high can help reduce food cravings and lead to weight loss.

Forever Thin is a spray you apply under your tongue. It’s easy to use, travels easily, and contains nutrients known to aid in fat burning including B vitamins, L-carnitine, raspberry ketone, and green coffee extract

Vitamins like B1, B12, folate, and choline are important in providing energy and metabolizing fats in the diet. Amino acids like L-carnitine help to mobilize stored fat to be used as energy.

Raspberry ketone is an aromatic compound responsible for the aroma and flavor of red raspberries. It has been found to have metabolic effects that prevent and decrease body fat deposits.

Green coffee extract contains chlorogenic acid, which slows the release of glucose into your blood. This helps to maintain healthy blood sugar levels. Research shows it also helps reduce body fat and body mass index, while retaining lean muscle mass.

Complete Weight Management is a 7-day program to jumpstart your efforts. It is a great option for people who want more of a disciplined “program” to help them get started.

The final product in this collection is Fat Burner Cream, a topical cream designed to improve skin texture, dissolve fat, and minimize the appearance of cellulite. Research shows its active ingredient, deoxycholic acid, decreases subcutaneous fat, likely by necrosis (killing the fat cell).4

Stay Determined & Patient

According to experts, it can take up to 21 days for something new to become a habit.

Stay persistent, and don’t beat yourself up over a bad day or slip-up. You’re human. Setbacks happen, and it’s easy to let them derail you.

Rather than throwing in the towel, allow yourself some time to feel your disappointment. But just as quickly, let it roll of your back and recommit to your program the next day.

Ask for Support

Share your goals with your network of friends and family, and ask them to keep you accountable. Have them check in on you daily, weekly, or whatever timeframe you think will help you most.

Even better, encourage one (or more) of them to join you on the journey. Call or text daily to discuss and work through struggles, frustrations, and challenges in a healthy manner. Celebrate small triumphs and victories with each other. Working together helps you feel less alone.

You might also consider starting a social media account, if this is something you’re comfortable with doing. You may find the support, questions, and curiosity of followers to be a positive motivator during your weight loss or fitness journey. 

Meal Prep

Invest a couple hours every Sunday to plan and prepare as many of your weekly meals as possible. Meal prepping can save you time, money, and potential slip-ups. Even more important, it keeps you on track and prevents eating out and overeating.

There are plenty of meal prep guides and cookbooks online and in bookstores if you need a little help getting started.

Track Your Progress

Track your daily progress, as well as any achievements—no matter how small or seemingly insignificant. Remember, every tiny victory adds up to your ultimate goal.

Many people swear by journaling. A simple spiral notebook will do. Every day, take a few moments to write down what you ate, what recipes you tried that you enjoyed, what exercise you did, how you felt, how much you slept, and any other important information.

All of this knowledge will help you see what is and isn’t working for you. Make tweaks as necessary. Seeing all your progress can really keep you motivated.

If you’re not a journal kind of person, download a diet/fitness tracking app on your phone. There are plenty of free ones that can help you track everything from calories and macros in foods, to workouts and calories burned.

Keep a “Can-Do” Attitude

Your attitude can have a tremendous impact on how successful you are. Keep a positive, “can-do” attitude.

Yes, it will get tough at times to stay motivated. But the more you stay focused, the easier it will become, and the better you’ll feel. You and your health are worth the effort!

References

1. Tsang C, et al. A meta-analysis of the effect of chromium supplementation on anthropometric indices of subjects with overweight or obesity. Clin Obes 2019 Aug;9(4):e12313.

2. Manohar V, et al. Effects of a water-soluble extract of maitake mushroom on circulating glucose/insulin concentrations in KK mice. Diabetes Obes Metab. 2002 Jan;4(1):43-8.

3. Kumar S, et al. An Open Label Study on the Supplementation of Gymnema sylvestre in Type 2 Diabetics.  Journal of Dietary Supplements. 2010;7(3): 273-282.

4. Rose T and Morgan M. Histological changes associated with mesotherapy for fat dissolution. Cosmet Laser Ther. 2005 Mar;7(1):17-9.