Most dieters know the importance of journaling during weight loss, but it might be just as important to journal prior to starting your weight loss journey. Important questions to ask yourself might be: “Why do I want to lose weight?” “What is the big picture?” Answers and thoughts might be:

With the holidays behind us, take a moment and ask yourself how you are currently eating and compare it to how you ate during the holidays. Have you extended your holiday season by continuing to eat liberally or are you back to a disciplined food plan? Are you dealing with some added pounds due to letting down your guard over the past two months?

Before setting goals for the New Year, think about the big picture and where you would like to be – 5, 10 years from now. What types of activities would you enjoy? What would mean the most to you? Do you want to travel, play with your grandchildren? To do the things you enjoy, you don’t want your body weight to affect your health and get in the way of your quality of life. So it is first important to identify what means a lot to you. It is easier to motivate oneself if there is a reason to make and keep making those changes.

Phones have become an additional appendage for most of the American population. In fact, there are legitimate forms of anxiety disorders, now officially recognized, that are associated fully with being separated from the phone, internet, and all things associated with our pockets full of technology. Our phones keep us in touch with loved ones, sure, but they also keep us constantly connected to work, to the news of the world, and to countless other updates that we may or may not actually need to know about.

The holiday season is generally thought of as November/December. There are parties and lots of social and eating events. However, June and July can also be a time when we greet-meet-and eat! Therefore, it is prudent to be vigilant this time of year. The following are some suggestions for navigating this busy season of vacations, holidays, anniversaries, graduations, etc.