By Jordan McCoy, MS, RDN, CDCES, LD—Registered Dietitian Nutritionist at Sheridan Green House, the long-term care facility operated by Sheridan Memorial Hospital.
We often look at the New Year as an opportunity to make changes within our lives, with common areas of change coming in the form of financial security, personal growth or a health. If you are making changes to your health in the new year, make 2025 the year of adding rather than subtracting, a tactic that can make you more successful in the long run.
If you’re planning to make a fitness goal, you’re already taking the first step toward making a change. What if, instead of making weight loss goals, we make goals centered around feeling strong, capable and confident? What if we make goals with the simple purpose of adding joy to our lives?
Take a moment to think about an activity that you would like to do this year that seems out of reach right now. Maybe your goal is to be able to ride bikes with your grandchildren to the park and play for an hour, or maybe it includes getting down on the floor with them to play with blocks or toy cars. Maybe your goal is to complete a 5k, a hike in the mountains or climbing the stairs at War Memorial Stadium to watch a game. Whatever meaningful goal you choose, make sure it adds to your life rather than deprives you of something.
With this mindset, you can also look to add in quality food choices that will properly fuel you for those goals. Over the next few months, focus on adding whole foods that are nutrient-rich rather than calorie-rich and nutrient-poor. Add whole foods in their natural forms such as meats, vegetables, fruits, naturally occurring carbohydrates such as sweet potatoes, regular potatoes, quinoa and rice (not instant), wholesome dairy products and healthy fats.
By focusing on adding these foods to your daily intake, you most likely will minimize some of the more unhealthy processed foods. Start by adding in a whole, nutrient-rich protein at breakfast, such as 2% or 5% Greek yogurt or two scrambled eggs. Add in hard-boiled eggs or a handful of raw almonds to a daily snack, rather than the vending machine choice of the day. Soon, by adding in some of these higher-quality foods, your food choices will transform into those nutrient-dense and real foods.
While data shows the vast majority of New Year’s resolutions fail by the end of January, allowing yourself a growth mindset can help you stick with it and establish habits that will aid your health for months — and years — to come.
Interested in learning more? Ask your primary provider about your healthcare concerns and if you could benefit from meeting with a registered dietitian. If you don’t have a primary provider, check out Sheridan Memorial Hospital’s Primary Care or call or text: 307.675.2690
Do you need help with ADDING a fitness goal? Learn More about Wyoming Rehab and their services by following the link: https://www.sheridanhospital.org/wyomingrehab or call: 307.674.1632