New Year. New You?

Did you make a health resolution?

If you did you are not alone. Some of the most common resolutions are to get fit, lose weight, eat better and improve health habits. These healthy habits reduce our risk of cancer by 30%. One-third of cancer cases are due to our lifestyle habits and we can do something to reduce the odds.

An ongoing study of almost 350,000 adults published in ecancermedicalscience shows how 5 lifestyle habits reduce the risk of developing cancer.

The big 5:

The five lifestyle habits that have the greatest impact.

1. Not smoking.
2. Reducing alcohol intake.
3. Regular physical activity.
4. Eating a healthy diet.
5. Maintaining a healthy weight.

Sounds like the most common New Year’s resolutions are good ones. Every one of these lifestyle factors reduces your risk by up to 8% and practising all 5 healthy habits reduces your risk of colorectal cancer by 25% and the risk breast cancer by 35%.

There is one small problem.

One week into January some people may already be feeling less motivated. By the end of January, 40% of people who have made a resolution to be healthier have already given up. Change is hard and without a  plan it is easier to go back to old habits.

What do you want?

One key ingredient to making new habits is to look forward. Don’t think about what you are trying to stop doing. Think about what you will do instead of what you won’t do. For example, if you are trying to eat better have a plan, such as 3:00 PM when I feel tired and hungry I will eat an apple. That is much easier to do than trying to avoid going to the local coffee shop and grabbing a cookie. Another tip, make sure you have the apple with you.

Consistency is the secret sauce.

There are so many great ways to make habits stick. You can change your behaviour even if you haven’t been 100% successful before. Consistency is key. Practice and keep track of how many times you are successful. Learn from your mistakes. They aren’t forever. They are normal. Unfortunately, when we fall off track there is a tendency to straight to all or nothing thinking. I can’t do it. Every time I try I blow it.

Seriously? Would you tell anyone else that… “you might as well quit trying.” No, I didn’t think so.

Increase your odds of success.

The key to being more successful in your resolutions is to understand your tendencies when it comes to external or internal expectations and goals. To make a plan. To have small action steps to success. I would also recommend a coach (but you knew I would have to say that) someone who can help you see where you are successful and where you could make changes that last.

Change your mind, change your health,

Shayla