A lot of people begin the New Year by making resolutions. We’ve all been there. We take a vow to lose weight, exercise more or spend more time with our family. We start the year with great intentions, but then we quickly relapse into old habits. Why is it so hard to stick to those New Year’s resolutions?

Here are some ways you can make your intentions a reality this year:

1.    Write down your intentions and keep them in a visible place, like taped to your bedroom mirror or the dashboard of your car.

2.    Get to the source of whatever is keeping you in a rut. Are you in a stressful relationship that causes you to eat a pint of ice cream every night? Are you stressed at work and feel too tired to exercise after work? If you don’t tackle the root of the behavior, it will be much harder to accomplish your goal.

3.    Be clear about what your life would look like once you achieve your goal. If you resolve to go to the gym more, how will this benefit you? Get connected to the result of your action, and you will be more likely to stick with your plan.

4.    Share your resolutions with friends and family. Hold each other accountable for achieving your goals. If you want to go to the gym more, have a friend call or text you during the week to check on you or invite them to join you. Set yourself up for success by hiring a coach or personal trainer who will help you accomplish your goals one step at a time.

5.    Increase your energy by cleaning up your diet. Achieving goals takes energy and digestion of food requires a lot of it. Increase your energy by eating a diet consisting of 70% whole foods. This means food is in its natural state that has not been processed or refined. Also, check out my article in Transformations online called 21 Effective Energy Boosting Tips You Can Use Now.

6.    Reduce the energy drainers in your life. Make a list of people and things that are depleting your energy and consider decreasing your time spent with them as best as you can.

7.    Feel your way to your goal. Intentions don’t manifest by simply repeating affirmations. They need feeling and emotion behind them in order for them to actualize. Start your day with a 5 minute visualization of your goals before you jump out of bed. How will you look? What will you be doing and who will you be with? What will you feel like when you achieve this goal?

8.    Reward yourself with every little accomplishment. If your intention is to lose weight and you lose 1 pound a week, pamper yourself with a massage or a frozen yogurt.

9.    Set SMART goals. SMART stands for: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-based. An example of a SMART goal is: I want to lose 5 lbs. in a month. Make your goals clear and calculable with an end date that is realistic, yet stretches you at the same time.

Big changes do not require big leaps. Permanent change is more likely to happen gradually one baby step at a time so remember to go easy on yourself and have fun too!

May all your New Year’s goals and dreams come true!

Food Focus: Sea Vegetables

In traditional Chinese healing, sea vegetables correspond to the winter season and to the kidneys, adrenal glands, bladder and reproductive organs. The strengthening, balancing and cleansing properties of sea vegetables are known to help these organs as well as the hair, skin and nails. Sea vegetables (or seaweeds) provide a variety of minerals and vitamins, including calcium, iron and iodine, and can help balance hormone and thyroid levels in the body. Eating too many processed foods or foods grown in mineral-depleted soil can result in a lack of minerals in the body, leading to cravings for salty or sugary foods. Adding sea vegetables to your diet can help balance your energy levels and alleviate cravings.

Recipe of the Month: Seaweed Salad

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Yields: 4 servings

Ingredients:

1 ounce seaweed, combine 2-3 varieties like wakame, arame & hijiki
1 teaspoon agave syrup
2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1 teaspoon sesame seeds

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients in a bowl.
2. Marinate for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Cylleria Johnson is a Holistic Health Coach trained at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition as well as professionally trained in the Brain Chemistry Optimization Profile. Cylleria’s love of spirit and personal development also led her to study energy work with a shaman. Combining her body, mind & spirit experience, she loves to inspire health and wellness to people ready to create powerful changes. While most dietitians dwell on calories, carbs, fats, proteins, and restrictions, she works with you step by step guiding you in designing a healthy and flexible