Healthy New Year's Resolutions

2016 will be a new year and potentially a new you. New Year’s resolutions are a good thing. If this statement is hard to believe, it's probably because of your history with setting them and getting the same unnerving result. This year, however, it can be different. You owe it to yourself to become the new person you want to be. Not in order to impress other people. You’re going to do it to remind yourself that yes, you can do whatever you put your mind to and become the person you want to be.

Are you ready to create a successful history? Check out the following tips to making it a happy and healthy 2016 and hello to the new you!

Share Your Plans
You may not have had success in prior years and hesitate to talk about your 2016 goals, but this may be the most important tip of all. If you choose to keep them a secret, you're 95% more likely to repeat last year's outcome. Sharing your future plans with family and friends is a great way to enlist support for your journey, as well as create an accountability system - regardless of whether or not they check-in with you on your progress. Just the fact that you've told them will make you think twice about not following through with your intentions. So whether you want to be more committed to your gym routine, eat better, or be more patient with your kids, don’t keep your resolution for a new you to yourself!

Give it a Dry Run
Perhaps you've decided that Monday, January 4th, will be the day to really commit to your new self. After all, don't you have to start fresh on Monday's? Start today with putting your ideas into practice. At least once a day, begin to implement your new lifestyle into your routine. Maybe it's giving your spouse a hug each morning before work. Or perhaps skipping the glass of wine with dinner. Maybe you decide to chew gum instead of heading out on a cigarette break when feeling stressed. Whatever your goals may be, scoring these small victories lets you know that you can indeed become the new person in the New Year that you desire.

Expect Success
One of the main reasons past New Year's resolutions haven't panned out is the fact that you haven't truly believed you can do it. The reason you're going to succeed this year is because you believe whole heartedly that you can do it. You're committed. You want it, and nothing is going to get in your way. When you expect success and know you can do it (and you can!) you'll be prepared to do whatever it takes to be successful.

Set Goals that Mean Something
Now, think about this. You want to lose weight, but when you say this goal to yourself, what does this really mean to you? Think deeper. What will losing weight do for you? How will you feel? What will you be able to do? What will you look like? Want to quit smoking? Well great. But why? How will life be different? How will you feel? What are the benefits of not smoking vs. continuing to do so? Set your goals, then ask yourself why. Write your why's out to create a wellness vision for yourself of how you'll be living your life once at your goal. Seeing is believing, as they say!

Don't Take it Too Seriously
It can be challenging to stay true to your new lifestyle goals every day. After all, you’ve spent a lifetime creating the old you. It takes time and a concerted effort to break old habits and create new, healthy ones. Your old self isn't going to leave without a fight, that's for sure. When your lifestyle changes feel like too much work, turn your focus to something fun. Watch a funny movie, get outside and go for a hike, call a friend and make plans to get together, etc. The goal here is to do something you enjoy and take the focus off of your goals.

Now, ready, set, go!


Bacon Wrapped Scallops

Bring this appetizer with you to your holiday festivities. You may question the bacon, but nitrate-free bacon and scallops are a healthy protein source to keep you fueled for your day. They may even help stave off the desire for sweets as they'll keep you more full than the others filled with carbohydrates and sugar.

Servings: 12

Ingredients

• 4 Tablespoons coconut oil
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• dash of sweet paprika
• dash of salt and pepper
• 6 slices nitrate-free bacon, cut in half lengthwise
• 12 fresh scallops

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Grease a baking sheet with coconut oil, set aside.
2. Over very low heat, in a small saucepan, melt the coconut oil. Remove from heat and pour into a small bowl. Add the garlic, paprika, salt and pepper.
3. Dip each scallop in the seasoned coconut oil, the wrap with bacon and secure with a toothpick. Place on prepared baking sheet.
4. Bake for 15 minutes or until the scallops are cooked through and the bacon is crisp. Serve immediately.

Nutritional Analysis: One serving equals:
92 calories, 7 g fat, 133 mg sodium, 1 g carbohydrate, 0 g fiber, and 7 g protein