Happy New Year! The most popular month of the year has arrived. January is a month that often brings exciting changes and new beginnings, which makes this time convenient to talk about resolutions. Yes, we’ve all set them with high hopes of accomplishing the one resolution that will revamp our past behaviors and deliver personal satisfaction.

Suppose this year you want to lose 10 pounds before a family wedding in April, or you are determined to avoid the cookie jar on a nightly basis. Whatever your motive is, my recommendation for 2014 is to be more reasonable when creating change, especially dietary change in your life.

By using the help of a registered dietitian, you can realistically set up a strategy that will place you on a path to improved health through a series of small changes. When working with clients I utilize a goal setting theory to help them stay on track. Making a goal doesn’t mean just saying “ I am going to lose weight in the next couple of months” or “ I am going to go to the gym more”. While those are great goals, they are too broad and not specific. The more detailed you can be- ‘I’m going to walk for 30 minutes during my lunch break at work”- the less difficult it is to stay focused on what you have to do to succeed.

Once you set your one specific goal, get others involved in your efforts. Research shows we are more likely to achieve our goals when making them public. By sharing your goals with friends and family or through public media (twitter, facebook etc) it holds you accountable, so it’s harder to back out.

During this year and especially during the month of January, Rittenhouse Women’s Wellness Center wants our patients to succeed on their journey towards better health. We are asking the readers of this newsletter to share their new years resolution with us and we’ll tweet it to help motivate our followers. By sharing your resolution, you will receive weekly motivational tips geared specifically towards helping you accomplish your goal during the month of January.

*Remember- there is no such thing as a “one size fits all approach” when talking your new years resolution. Here at Rittenhouse Women’s Wellness Center, we welcome the opportunity to help you find your perfect fit in health and wellness.