The Yachtie Glow: Struggling with a New Year’s weight goal?

Jan 1, 2018 by Angela Orecchio

The Yachtie Glow: by Angela Orecchio

Maintaining a healthy weight after the holidays is one of the most sought-after goals of the New Year.  We all know that we need to eat better and exercise more, however, it’s easy to overlook some other lifestyle habits that are equally as important.

Clarify the ‘why’ behind the goal

Chances of sticking to our New Year’s goals increase greatly when the reason for having the goal is big enough to keep us on track when things get tough. Because of this, it’s important to ask why maintaining a healthy weight is necessary and hold the vision clearly in the mind. Writing the reason down in a positive tone and keeping it somewhere visible every day reinforces the goal. An example of this would be: I am a healthy weight of (fill in your goal with the specific number) so that I feel good in my body, have excellent health and an abundance of energy.  

Write some affirmations

Write down affirmations that create gratitude around a healthy weight.  Some affirmations might be: Thank you for my healthy body, mind and spirit. I choose foods that support my healthy, mind, body and spirit today. I treat my body with love today.

Act as if the goal has been reached

How would we act today if we were already at our healthy weight?  We would most likely eat well, exercise and look in the mirror with gratitude. Doing it now is a powerful tool in helping us reach our future goal because it shifts our attitudes and perceptions of what is possible.

Sleep – right time, right amount

During sleep, our bodies repair and regenerate more thoroughly than any other time during the day. It’s said that between 22:00-2:00 one achieves the deepest sleep, when human growth hormone is released and when the most healing occurs. Sleep deprivation throws the entire system out of balance so that the body doesn’t function as efficiently as it could. This can affect weight because when the body is tired, it craves foods that will give it the biggest calorie hit for energy.

Flush toxins with plenty of water

While releasing weight, as well as maintaining a healthy weight, the body is eliminating toxins regularly. Staying hydrated with fresh, plain water assists this elimination, allowing the toxins to be more easily removed through the skin and bowels. It is said that a good rule to begin with is to drink half the body weight in ounces of water.

Practice better ways to handle stress

Some people stop eating when they are stressed, while others eat more. If we stop eating altogether when we are stressed, we will almost always make up for it with some level of binge eating later. If instead we overeat when stressed, we often are not choosing healthy foods. Either way, being overly stressed is a recipe for unhealthy weight in the long term. Additionally, the high levels of cortisol the body releases when stressed have been shown to affect weight by increasing insulin levels, which signal the body to store fat.

When stressful situations come up, learn instead how to deal with them in healthy ways, such as deep breathing, yoga and daily practice.

Angela Orecchio is a chief stew, certified fitness instructor and health coach. This column was edited from her blog, Savvy Stewardess, The Smart Girl’s Guide to Yachting (www.savvystewardess.com). Comments are welcome below.

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About Angela Orecchio

Angela Orecchio is a chief stew and certified health coach. This column was edited from blog, Savvy Stewardess, The Smart Girl’s Guide to Yachting. Contact her through www.savvystewardess.com.

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