What will change for you in 2019?

~ Chocolaterunsjudy

bsmallstepsAre you a resolutions/goals person, or do you ignore all the hype of New Year’s resolutions, figuring that resolutions never work anyway?

There’s an old saying from Weight Watchers or WW as they style themselves now:

If you do what you always did, you’ll get what you always got.

Fairytales and Fitness

Tweak your life
Whether you believe in resolutions/goals or not, chances are your life isn’t perfect. There’s no need to overhaul your whole life and make lofty resolutions that have no hope of ever being fulfilled.

Some hydrating spa water, but I also go for simple H20

You can change your life with some small tweaks, though, and here are a few I’m doing (some I had already started before the ball dropped on 2019):

  • Drink more water. I don’t drink juices or soda, but I realized how heavily I rely on teas. While there’s nothing wrong with that, plain old H2O does a body good. So I’ve been drinking more of it.
  • Walk more. I wrote about this a while back, how I’d relaxed my walking because I thought I do enough running. Then I realized I really do need to move more, and since the weather is often nasty at this time of year, my treadmill has been getting a workout — a walking workout, that is!
  • Utilize those stairs. I’ll never be Kim @ Runningonthefly, but I decided recently I could use my stairs more. So when I’m pacing around the house because I’ve been sitting too long, I also go up and down the stairs a little. This is one I know I need to build on slowly, because too many stairs too soon can irritate my IT.
  • Preplan my meals. I know for a lot of people this sounds nuts, but it works for me. And of course I’ve gotten away from it. I just plan out my day the night before — and if I feel like changing it — which I often do — I just change it. Having a plan helps me to make better choices, and I suck at following other people’s meal plans.
  • Mindful eating. I don’t read or watch tv while I eat, but sometimes I find myself gobbling down my food when I’m busy — sometimes even when I’m not. We don’t taste our food when we do that, which can lead to overeating! One way I slow down and savor my meals is by closing my eyes — when I’m by myself, anyway.

  • Taking it to the stairs — simple steps!

Simple steps to a better life
Some people love those big, scary goals to motivate themselves. Sometimes I do, too. You can never go wrong with small steps to a better you.

What small changes are you making in 2019?

Do you have any big goals for 2019?

Or are you completely happy with your life as it is right now?

Big, hairy, audacious goals are wonderful. Without the small steps you most likely won’t meet those goals. So dream big, but start small. — Chocolaterunsjudy

26 thoughts on “What will change for you in 2019?”

  1. All of this is good advice, Judy, for everyone, runners and non-runners alike. I am terrible at drinking enough water (Like you, I don’t drink juice or, horrors, soda). It’s something I always forget. 2019, here I come.

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  2. All good advice. Unfortunately none would work for me.

    Everyone has different needs. I am always on the move, walk and take the stairs too often. I do need water but that won’t happen.

    Mine is to do a plank, sit, read and drink a glass of wine every night.

    But the big one is to focus on what’s good not what is wrong.

    So far so good.

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  3. Great tips, Judy. My hubby and I have started taking Benji for extra long walks since he has been retired. We usually walk for about 3 – 4 miles each day in addition to my running schedule. I am hoping to shed a few extra pounds I put on over the holidays! Love your “dream big, start small” quote!

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  8. I need to get back to meal planning too. I had been planning dinners for a week-ish at a time, but that fell off during the fall. It’s hard to figure out what to make for dinner when you’re already hungry!

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  11. great post Judy! I agree with you! and I remember this WW saying from soooooo long ago and always think about it when I feel bad about my (lack of) progress.

    my small steps – being mindful of what I’m eating. logging my foods in my WW app instead of “guesstimating” (here’s where it goes wrong)

    taking the stairs at home instead of using the lift. we live on the 4th floor of an 8 floor apartment building. it’s not *that* bad to go up the stairs.

    move more throughout throughout the work day.

    I would also like to get out of bed earlier to get some movement in and preplan my meals and am not there yet but it will happen.

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  13. Love your four legged stair coach!
    I agree with you on the small things & not blowing up your whole life unsustainably. Mindful eating is definitely one for me
    I accidentally nearly gave up soda two years ago and don’t really miss it. At some point I should cut back on the coffee, but I’m not ready. A girl needs a vice 😀

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  14. I’ve been trying to walk more or to keep my running watch on and track my steps – I do run a lot but in between – hm. I am considering going down up down the stairs every time I need to get something from the kitchen!

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