And here it is again…..another new year, another opportunity to make New Years Resolutions. Of course we don’t need a New Year to click over to make a change but for many it is a logical time. As I’ve previously discussed, I am not one for making resolutions that are so onerous they are not achievable. Instead my preference it to make small changes that will stick. The key is to choose the small changes that will actually make a difference. Given I already eat healthy (well you’d be worried if I didn’t right?) I have decided to target a few other changes that will support my health and wellbeing and that of my family. So here goes…….my 3 New Years resolutions for 2019.

  • Eat dinner early and make it light. It’s not all about what you eat but also when you eat that counts. I have been practising time restricted eating in the last 6 months. This means having a 12-16 hour break from food, usually between dinner one night and breakfast the next morning. This pattern suits how I eat and my hunger pattern and so was a logical choice for me. Having a restricted window in which you eat is a form of intermittant fasting (IF) and as such brings with it the benefits of IF such as lower cholesterol, better fat burning, increased cellular repair, weight loss and even anti-ageing effects.The problem with this is that as a busy mum and the chief cook my family wasn’t eating dinner until late – I mean 8-8.30 late and I know that this is not sustainable for them or for me. This year I am aiming to have dinner on the table earlier. It will also be a light dinner. The old adage of breakfast like a queen, lunch like a princess and dinner like a pauper is a good basis to live by. Eating your more substantial meal earlier in the day ensures you are providing your body with the fuel it needs when it needs it and less will be stored as fat. If you struggle to eat early due to work restraints or other commitments making your last meal of the day your lightest will help.
  • Prioritise sleep. I love my sleep but too often I do not prioritise it. As a consequence I am often behind the eight ball before the day has even begun. Sleep is the most fundamental aspect of self-care. It plays a vital role in our physical and psychological wellbeing. Just one night of poor sleep can affect memory, judgment, eating patterns and mood and can interfere with the normal circadian rhythm of sleep. 7-8 hours of quality sleep each night is enough to keep us on track. Plan for this and prepare for a goods night sleep.
  • Eat more fibre. We all know that fibre keeps us regular but did you also know it stabilises our blood sugar levels (which keeps us feeling fuller for longer and helps to avoid sugar cravings), helps to keep our cholesterol levels in a healthy range, feeds our good gut bacteria and helps our body to detoxify. Each meal you have ask yourself – where’s the fibre? Vegetables, nuts, seeds, legumes such as lentils, chickpeas and beans, a couple of pieces of fruit, wholegrains are all good choices to include in each meal of the day.

It is my aim to achieve these 3 goals each day. Yes, there will be some days that they will be compromised. However, rather than use this as an excuse not to achieve them at all, I will accept this and begin each day anew. Who’s with me?