Start Small Follow Up: Making New Year’s Resolutions into a Lifestyle

February 10, 2016 by Kari Karch

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An entire month has gone by since you’ve decided to yet again, make a New Year’s resolution that you probably have already let slide by. We tend to put these outrageous demands on ourselves in hopes that we might actually keep at least one of those resolutions. Most likely they involve dropping some pounds, eating healthier, working out more, not overspending, taking more time to travel, deleting your ex-boyfriend’s pictures off your computer… (Yes, these perhaps might have been my resolutions but you get the gist).

So let’s not let another year creep by us without at least indulging in the practice of turning resolutions into a lifestyle. By making small changes everyday we have the opportunity to keep up with our sworn demands that were probably touted about over a couple bottles of cheap sparkling wine. I’ve comprised a list of helpful hints and tricks that I’ve tested first hand and wanted to share them in hopes that you too, can take on this year like a boss.

Ask your best friend to be your favorite cheerleader
There is so much truth behind the idea of having a supportive team behind you when it comes to reaching one’s goals. I find that calling upon my closest friends is one of the most surefire ways to keep up with the motivation. Starting a daily group chat with your best buds not only ensures that you will continue on your path, it might inspire one of them to join you! Before you know it, most of your supportive pals will not only have helped you along the way, but you might be coaching them for that same thing you requested from the start. High five to all of you!

Get a new App
With all of the New Year’s resolutions in the world, they always say ‘there’s an app for that’. Well guess what? There is and it’s so easy to make those resolutions stick especially when it comes to your diet and exercise plan. I love being able to log my daily bites into a plethora of food journal apps so that I can monitor my food intake throughout the week. This helps me to see where most of my daily calories and fat intake is structured and either needs improvement or is moving along just fine. If you start the habit of tracking what you ate right after a meal, it becomes almost second nature to upload it into your virtual journal. The same goes for exercising. I use an app to log my workouts, find new classes that will challenge me, and track my progress on a daily basis. And I must admit, it’s become somewhat of an obsession when I can see myself progressing (now only if I could start seeing my abs. *Hopefully soon with these great smartphone apps!)

Use your mirror as a motivation wall
When we constantly see motivational quotes every morning before we head out the door, they tend to go into your subconscious and become a reality. I like to write those quotes and other motivational words right on my bathroom mirror so that every day I can recite them to myself before I even have that much needed cup of Joe. So go grab yourself a dry erase marker from a craft store in a bright color and write whatever makes you get up and go on your mirror in the bathroom. Don’t worry, it wipes right off so your houseguests won’t think you’ve flown over the cuckoo’s nest.

Make a switch in your kitch
The kitchen was always my enemy growing up because my family never really understood the power and benefits of eating healthy — think boxed foods, pre-packed meals, and processed foods, which lead us to a life of illness and larger waistlines. One of my favorite tips now as a healthy foods chef, is to keep your fridge stocked every day with tons of fresh fruits and vegetables that you prep as soon as you get home from the grocery store. Storing these items front and center will help you to grab them when you are in a hurry and need a snack. Another favorite tip is to plan your meals ahead each and every week and take about 2 hours to pre-cook a breakfast, lunch, and dinner. This not only saves you lots of money from going out to eat, it reduces the amount of calories and fat that restaurants tend to sneak into our grub.

Kari Karch

Kari Karch is a 19-year veteran of the culinary industry, creator of Kiss the Cook, and the head chef and spokesperson for the Kenmore brand. She has made many notable appearances on ABC Morning News, on WGN, on the Cooking Channel and as a judge for the World Food Championships.