Congratulations!

If you’re reading this you survived 2016 and have made it into 2017 (assuming that by the time you’re reading this the days have already changed in your time zone). Unfortunately, it also means you have to try and stick to those New Year’s Resolutions you made. But don’t worry, that isn’t as impossible as it may seem right now.

What to do with those pesky resolutions…

  1. Are they reasonable? If not, adjust. Or, break them down into smaller goals. Example: I want to lose 65 pounds. That’s a bit unreasonable right now. So instead I say, I want to eat healthier and exercise more. I increase my goals for healthy meals and active time a little each week, and in the process I’ll lose weight.
  2. Break your reasonable goals into milestone mini goals. Example: By the end of January I want at least half my meals and snacks to be healthier choices than I normally make. I want to be active for an extra half hour a day, even if it’s just using my sitting elliptical.
  3. Celebrate each time you achieve a milestone mini goal. It doesn’t have to be extravagant. Do something you haven’t done in awhile, eat a smaller portion of your favorite treat, get your nails done. You get the idea. Positive reinforcement helps a lot more than you’d think.
  4. Don’t feel bad if you slip up or aimed too high or too low. It’s called being human. If you start working on your goal and realize you were being unrealistic, adjust. Sometimes life changes what you are able to actually do without losing your sanity. That doesn’t mean you’re a failure. It just means that shit happens and it’s time to adapt. Don’t throw out everything just because you didn’t perfectly predict what you could achieve.

What about me?

In 2016 my goal was to cut the toxic people and things out of my life. I succeeded as much as I could. (Some thing you have to live with unfortunately). In 2017 my goal is to continue my weight loss by changing my eating habits. I know I can’t change them all at once, so I’ve started making little changes. Keeping fresh veggies pre-cut in the fridge. I’ve made no-bake cookies with less sugar than the recipe calls for and sunbutter when I’m craving a cookie. They’re small but filling and flavorful. (I’ll post my recipe below)

Sun Butter No-Bake Cookies

Ingredients
1 C sugar
1/2 C whole milk
1 stick unsalted butter
1/4 C unsweetened cocoa powder
3 C quick oats
1/2 C unsweetened sunbutter

Directions 

  1. In a saucepan over medium heat bring milk, butter, sugar, and cocoa to a boil, stirring occasionally
  2. Boil for one minute
  3. Remove from heat and stir in sunbutter and oats
  4. Drop by rounded spoonful onto wax paper sheets (we used a melon scoop then flattened them out)
  5. Place in freezer for an hour to fast set
  6. Store separated by wax paper in air tight container in fridge or freezer and enjoy