Go Ahead, Start on January 1st

Permission granted.

Circle that 1 with a black Sharpie. It falls on a Tuesday this year, and typically all new things MUST start on a Monday (note my sarcasm;), but since you have my official permission, go ahead and commit yourself to a fresh start on the 1st.

I'll be honest, the idea of a resolution is a bit ridiculous to me.

To think that a date on the calendar could be the primary impetus for lasting change is a bit ridiculous. We all know that making change is a process that involves all kinds of internal shifts that are way bigger than just doing, or not doing, something.

Then why the heck am I saying to go ahead and circle January 1st as your start date???

Because I am all about cycling when it comes to nutrition.

When I look at the year as a whole, I chunk it into cycles based on major events, vacations, holidays, and seasons. My 2019 cycles look like this:

January-March

April

May

June-August

September-Early November

Mid November- December

Each of these 6 cycles fits into one of two categories: Loosen Up or Dial In. During my Loosen Up cycles, I am adhering to my foundational skills including making whole food choices, keeping processed foods to a minimum, and calendaring (one of the strategies that simple apple members use All. The. Time.). Loosen up means I have more flexibility in my eating and I am a bit less regimented.

The thing with the Loosen Up phase is that in order for things not to become a hot mess where I am face planting into a hot fudge sundae every-other-day, I have to have the emotional and behavior nutrition skills on LOCK DOWN. I would describe these skills as my go-to way of being. The way I would eat and interact with food on an everyday basis, if no one was looking and I wasn't keeping a food journal.

Once you own your nutrition, the Loosen Up cycle becomes this awesome, peaceful place to exist, where you feel in control, look good, AND enjoy life. In 2019, April, June, and Mid November cycles will be a time to Loosen Up for this girl!

The Dial In cycle speaks to my inner Type A.

Its true. I love managing details, analyzing, planning, and plotting success. My January, May, and September cycles are all about the Dial In. During these times, I am on point pretty much all the time, so that I can relax a bit during the Loosen Up cycles.

I stick to my Targets (simple apple's tool for CrUsHiNg nutrition goals) like glue, prep my food like a (girl) boss, and relish in my ability to stare down a piece of dark chocolate without even blinking.

When I Dial In, I call upon all of my character strengths to hit my physique, health, and performance goals...and it is so freaking empowering to see what happens to my body and my way of being when I focus in on the task at hand.

While resolutions are a load of garbage, and I secretly (or maybe not so secretly) think that people who wait for Monday, the start of the month, or the ultimate fresh start of January 1st are just buying time to continue crappy eating patterns, New Years may represent something a bit different for you, as it does for me.

If this New Year is your Dial In phase, then get ready, because it is just days away, and my inner Type A is in search of friends to compare data points and recipes with!