Many proclaim, “New year, new me” come January. But how do you get started on building the healthiest version of yourself in 2019? Lisa Ellis, a registered dietitian in White Plains, and Rye Brook-based Susan Blum, MD, founder of Blum Center for Health, offer inspiring tips.
Ellis advises striving for a healthy relationship with food. To help you understand your eating habits, she suggests keeping track of what you eat and your emotional state as you eat it in a food/mood diary. “Instead of restricting intake and following strict diet rules, start listening to your body’s internal hunger and fullness cues, and remember that you can choose not to eat, if motivated to do so by reasons other than hunger,” Ellis says. She also advises increasing mindfulness while eating: “Stay in the present and take your time; be aware; enjoy the taste of the food and the experience of eating. Embracing these satisfactions often decreases the need to continue eating past the satiation point.”
The old adage “Know thyself” shapes Blum’s advice for 2019. “Before making any new relationship, work, or lifestyle resolutions, you need to figure out what’s truly important to you in your life,” she says. “Read books on spirituality or self-awareness and go to classes or weekend retreats. This is the best investment you can make in your long-term happiness.” She suggests that your resolution be something you know you can do. “Many people make the mistake of being too ambitious,” she cautions. “In the darkness of winter, follow nature’s rhythm and choose to sleep more; set an earlier bedtime. Your body, mind, and spirit will thank you.”
