Where Do You Start?

Whatever our New Year’s Resolutions have been over the years, there is one thing that helps every time…a list. Write down all the different goals you’d like to achieve for the new year. Then put some serious thought into which one means the most to you, and will cause the highest impact in your life. Once you have chosen your resolution, take a few minutes to sit down and really go in depth with why you chose your goal. This is important because if you are struggling with your resolution, its good to go back and look at the reason why you’re doing it in the first place. Next, make two separate lists. The first list we call our “Positives” list. In other words, the things that you need to do (or maybe already do) that will help you in achieving your ambition. For example being around supportive people who may have reached the same goal you are trying to achieve. Actions you take that would only help you in the process. The “Negatives” list, as we call it, are all the things you do, or surround yourself with that will only prevent you (or discourage you) from reaching your goal.

Here are some common resolutions. A resolution is as easy as taking a fresh approach.

Punctuality & Organization

These two went hand in hand. If your resolution is to be more punctual, you clearly need to have a better sense of time, meaning you need to be more organized. Buying planners can make you feel like an organized person. But we assure you, it does not make you one. Faithfully keep ONE planner, ONE calendar to hang up in the kitchen area and ONE To Do List, magnetized for the refrigerator. The planner was for absolutely everything. All meetings, all appointments, daily tasks, etc. The family calendar was for important events, sports games, doctors appointments and other things of that nature. The To Do List was only for grocery shopping. Conveniently kept right on the fridge, with a pen right next to it. The grocery list made food shopping so much easier because we knew exactly what everyone needed. Now, if we run out of milk we just simply write it on the list. Find what fits with your lifestyle and suits your needs. As with anything in life, it takes patience and dedication to stay true to a routine. But when you do you will become more punctual, be able to put your time to good use and instead of drowning in your scattered To Do lists.

By becoming more organized, you’re essentially changing your entire lifestyle. You’ll be able to have more family time, plan ahead with meals, pack lunches the night before…everything will run more smoothly.

Eating Healthier & Losing Weight

The most commonly used Resolution of all, is to lose weight. Of course there is no easy way to do this. Losing weight can be incredibly difficult for some people. We won’t pretend to be health experts on the matter. But we will tell you that there is no better way to start by changing your diet. Toss the food in your fridge that has high fat content, but keep a few indulgences for yourself. Find foods that are healthy and that you actually enjoy eating. They’re out there…you just have to look for them! Plan your meals in advance, and watch out for your portion control. Replace one of your indulgences with something healthy, but that you find equally delicious. Don’t starve yourself, just cut back to smaller portions and eat more frequently. Don’t snack before bedtime. Make sure you eat foods containing a lot of fiber.

Grab a bag of Setton Farms Natural Pistachios if you’re really serious about eating better and staying healthy. Recent studies at the Harvard School of Public Health have shown that Pistachios can boost heart health, help stabilize blood sugar levels in Type 2 Diabetes, weight management support. Pistachios are a fantastic source of fiber and protein. For all of you out there who have problems with portion control, this is the snack for you. Natural Pistachios have been referred to as the “mindful snack”. In other words, because it takes longer for someone to eat a pistachio in comparison to other snacks, they become more aware of how much they are actually eating. They also are one of the lowest fat nuts and have antioxidant capacity.

Whole Unblanched Almonds have incredibly high amounts of Vitamin E, making them a powerful antioxidant. They contain Magnesium, which makes your Cardiovascular System more efficient by delivering more oxygen and nutrients to the body.  They also have high amounts of Potassium stabilizing the heart muscle and blood pressure. Add them on top of your salad for a healthy lunch, or just pack them separately in a plastic bag to eat in between meals. You can also try crushing them up and store in a small container to pack up with your La Yogurt Yogurt. Add the crushed Almonds on top for a heart healthy snack.  Or just swap one of your guilty pleasures that’s not so healthy, with a Yo Crunch Yogurt. That way you get to sprinkle on a little bit of what you love without splurging.

Snack on Sun Maid Raisins to replace a snack you’d normally eat. There are many benefits to Raisins that people are not aware of. Their rich contents of Calcium make them capable of enhancing bone health. They also prevent tooth decay and cavities by preventing the growth of harmful bacteria that causes diseases like gingivitis.

You don’t have to omit dessert just because you want to lose some weight. Grab Weight Watchers Cakes Cookies & Brownies available in our Bakery Department. We also have other bite sized treats that will help with portion control. Or pick up our Mini Bagels perfect for making smaller sandwiches or enjoying a lighter breakfast.

Quitting Smoking

Are you a smoker and have decided that you are ready to quit? It is never easy to stop a bad habit. But if you are trying to quit smoking, you will absolutely need support. Find people in your life that were able to kick the habit themselves. Avoid being in situations where you’ll get the worst urges. A common place for smokers to have a cigarette is in the car. So clean out that car and get rid of the ashtrays. Toss the lighters. Whatever your resolution is, you need to completely commit to doing it. Clean absolutely EVERYTHING that smells of tobacco. Smelling it on your clothes and belongings will just make your cravings worse. One thing that we’d like to strongly stress about this is, you need to be absolutely dedicated to quitting. If you’re trying to stop smoking to please someone in your life, chances are you will just end up smoking again. Do it for yourself. On your own time and when you’re ready. Surprisingly, no matter how much we all hear and see first hand the effects of smoking cigarettes, it doesn’t seem to motivate smokers to quit. Hearing it too often that cigarettes are bad for you, seems to make people desensitized to the horrible health risks. What we’ve found is a tremendous motivator, is tracking how much money you spend on purchasing cigarettes. Do the math straight from when you started smoking. Figure out how much extra money you would have had by now. Do not let this discourage you. Look forward and figure out how much you would be spending if you continued smoking (factoring in the rise in price). That is what you can gain back (and obviously, much more than money). Even after just a few days of going without a cigarette, many people say that can start tasting foods they haven’t tasted in years! Cigarettes are so highly addictive, that it is not enough to just toss out the last pack. Yes, the actual nicotine withdrawals are gone shortly after quitting. But that’s not what people find so difficult about stopping. Taking cigarette breaks becomes part of any smokers daily routine, and gives them a sense of relief if they are stressed. So avoid anything that gives you extreme stress in the immediate beginning. That is the true test. Be around people who are relaxed and easy going. Take an exercise class, we highly suggest doing Yoga which is fantastic for those coping with stress. We believe that the most helpful thing of all is changing everything about your daily routine. Even driving a different route to work. As silly as that may sound. If you drink coffee, switch to tea (not forever, but temporarily). Eat healthier. Definitely begin doing a craft of some kind that uses your hands. Such as knitting, playing the guitar, sculpting…anything. It will help you deal with your urges.