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Remember all those New Year’s resolutions? How many have you kept?

Why do we set new year’s resolutions year after year? And, more importantly, why do they fail?

The main reason resolutions fail is we are not committed. Our resolutions are unclear and we don’t think about the reasons why we want to accomplish our goal.

I know the drill. I have been there so many times. I have made big lofty resolutions. This is the year! I’m going to run the Boston Marathon – I hate running. I’m going to only eat raw vegan – I love the warmth of comfort food. I’m going to organize my closet – until I am running late and then my closet explodes. Most of my resolutions never lasted more than a week or two.

By this time of the year, I don’t even remember what my resolutions were!

I have learned from a lot of trial and error, if you want to set a goal and accomplish it, you need to do these three things:

GET YOUR HEAD IN THE GAME 

SET YOURSELF UP FOR SUCCESS

SMALL STEPS = BIG CHANGE

Transitioning to a plant-based lifestyle is no different. These three steps will help you in moving to a healthier plant-based lifestyle. By eating healthier, you will be able to have more energy, think more clearly, and be well on your way to a more vibrant and healthy you. I dare you to take charge of your health!

Get your head in the game. What is your catalyst for change? What is so powerful that it moves you to improve something in your life?

In the wee hours of February 2, 1996, my life changed profoundly and completely. I gave birth to a beautiful baby boy! Twenty months later, I gave birth to another baby boy.  Yahoo! Lucky me! With two baby boys, I also had 50 extra pounds, a face riddled with regular breakouts and rosacea, anxiety, out-of-control hormones, panic attacks, and worst of all, low self-esteem. These maladies didn't come from childbirth. They had followed me around for years from childhood. I knew that something had to change. Having children changed me deeply and profoundly. Before they could even speak a word, I was challenged to become the best version of myself. This was true in many areas of my life. It was especially true when it came to taking care of myself and my body. I now had a new lease on life. I had to be healthy for my kids. I had to learn what it meant to be healthy so I could teach them. I was determined to give them the proper tools to have a healthy relationship with food so they didn't suffer from the same things I grew up suffering from. I wanted to give them the best opportunities to be all they could be in the world. I wanted to give them the platform to create their best version of life, happiness, and themselves and in doing so, give them the tools to do so.

The first interaction I had with food and my baby was going to the store to buy baby food.  YIKES! Have you ever tasted baby food? Disgusting is a compliment here. They all taste the same. They do not look or smell anything like the real stuff. And, what is really in baby food? I'm not sure. I knew there was no way I was going to give my baby this stuff. Only the best for my baby. So, instead of baby food, I opted to make my baby food. It wasn’t that hard. I took steamed carrots and purred them. Same for other vegetables and fruits. This wasn't over the top...this was giving my baby the best. And in my mind, only the best would do.

This small step opened my mind to learning more about what is in the food we eat. The natural progression after baby food is real food. If I wasn't going to give my son baby food because it didn't look or taste like the real thing, and I questioned what was actually in it, then what about when I needed to move to food other than baby food? What is in that ‘food’ we buy premade? The concept of reading labels and contemplating what you are eating was completely foreign to me. While I never considered it for myself, life was no longer about me. Now it was about my babies. And nothing was too good for them.

I realized that I needed an education. Growing up I ate a lot of processed food. My idea of a great breakfast was a large serving of some sugary cereal drowning in cow’s milk. While many of these packages indicate a serving size of 3/4 cup - isn't that quaint - I can assure you that my regular serving size was many times this. I would frequently consume up to two days’ worth of sugar allowance in just one meal. It is no wonder I had many maladies that followed me to adulthood. I was 18 before I realized that there was lettuce other than iceberg!

My babies were my catalyst for change. Their presence in my life changed me and anchored me firmly into creating a lifestyle that would never give them the same issues I had.  I transitioned to a vegetarian diet and then vegan/plant-based.

This was not always an easy journey. For a time we lived in a small town in the Midwest and people thought I was nuts! However, my why, my catalyst for this new lifestyle was so strong, it carried me through.

I share my story with you because no matter what goal you are trying to accomplish, you need to understand your why. You need to get your head in the game. The deeper you search, the more authentic and strong your why. There is a surface answer, sure, but the reason that touches your very soul is the why you need to understand. It is this why that will get you through challenges and difficult situations. It is this why that will keep you going when you want to give up. It is this way that you can share with those you love to get their support. It is this why that will help you move your goal to your reality.

By failing to prepare, you prepare to fail.

-Benjamin Franklin

Set yourself up for success – Do yourself a favor and set your kitchen up for a successful transition. If you want to eat healthier, you need to stock your refrigerator and pantry with healthy options. You know there are going to be moments when shit hits the fan and you don’t have time to prepare a meal. Make sure you have quick healthy choices. Pasta and sauce; add whatever veggies you have. Quinoa and sauteed veggies with any greens. Throw leftovers in a pot and add diced tomatoes. Meal planning is a great way to set yourself up for success, but if that seems too ‘crazy’ for you, start with stocking your kitchen with options for easy, go-to meals.

Make should that you have the right tools too. Don't worry - you don't need to buy all new stuff. One of the most important tools is a sharp knife. SHARP knife being the key. If you can't remember when you had your knives sharpened, or didn't even know that was a thing, you will be amazed at how you can chop and dice like a pro just by sharpening your knives. 

Small steps = big change – If you want to change something in your life, you need to consistently move in the direction of your goal. Are you one to take massive action? Great! All the better. But, if you want to ease into your goals, you need to take small steps towards your goals. Every. Single. Day. Those small steps will eventually have a snowball effect and before you know you will achieve or be close to achieving your goal. If you wish to eat healthier, focus on making those small adjustments every day. Start by eating a plant-based diet for one meal each day, or if that’s too much, start with eating plant-based one day per week. You will see just how easy it is, and be encouraged to try more. You CAN do it!

Each of us is starting in a different place. Be kind to yourself. Understand your personal why, set yourself up for success, and be realistic about your goals. Creating small commitments that you can achieve will set you up for success, build your confidence and encourage you to see that meeting your goals is doable and realistic.

Do you need a little more help? Click here to work with Terrie one on one and get yourself set up for success!