A Healthi Start for the Year Ahead

Hi, Coach Jeri here!

Wishing all our Coaches, Support Staff, and Healthi members a very Happy New Year!

‍

Step Confidently Into the New Year

I’ll be honest, there was a time I never liked New Year’s celebrations. They were a reminder that I was still unhealthy and unhappy with my weight. But now? I step into the New Year confident that I’m doing everything possible to stay healthy. Over the years, I’ve given up on dieting and embraced lifestyle changes that keep me at maintenance. It didn’t happen overnight. Small steps, small successes, accepting progress over perfection, and honoring my body’s limitations have made me the person I am today.

January is often the kickoff point for anyone looking to shed a few pounds or start a health journey. We begin the year with promises—exercise more, eat less—but this year, let’s make a different kind of commitment. Focus on what truly works for your life and your circumstances. No more chasing miracle fixes or quick-fix gimmicks that don’t last.

This year, your New Year’s promise is simple: find the plan that works best for you. Every day is a fresh start. Stop thinking about “dieting” and start living a lifestyle of better choices. Shift your mindset from “all or nothing” to the 80/20 rule—eat healthy 80% of the time and allow for occasional indulgences. This keeps you consistent and prevents the restrict-binge cycle.

‍

It's Time to Prepare

The key to managing holiday meals, social events, or unexpected challenges is mental preparation. Anticipate uncomfortable situations, identify triggers, and practice how you’ll respond. The more prepared you are, the easier it is to use healthy coping strategies and avoid overeating. Long-term success comes from small, consistent changes that become part of your routine.

Here are Coach Jeri’s top tips to stay motivated and make this year your healthiest yet:

1. Focus on adding, not subtracting. Weight loss isn’t just about what you can’t have. Discover new foods, recipes, and flavors to prevent feeling deprived. Enjoying your food is part of the journey.
2. Plan for success, not past failures. Every day is a fresh start. Don’t compare today to yesterday.
3. Keep your goal in mind: better health and longevity. Your ultimate aim is a strong, vibrant, long-term life.
4. Don’t obsess over the scale or the time it takes. Progress comes from consistent small steps. Each effort counts.
5. Eat the rainbow. Include colorful fruits and vegetables at every meal for fullness, nutrients, and variety.
6. Shift to whole foods. Reduce processed foods, which are often low in volume and high in sodium, so you feel hungry again sooner.
7. Track, weigh, and measure. Use your scanner and log consistently. Attend meetings, share in the community. You’re not alone.
8. View slips as learning moments. Mistakes are normal. What matters is how you respond, not the guilt afterward.
9. Stick to routines when possible. Comfort comes from consistency. Revisit your motivation, goals, and your “why” regularly.
10. Stay in the program. Leaving rarely helps long-term progress. Most people return because old habits crept back.

Celebrate every small victory. Non-scale victories matter—anything that makes you feel better, like organizing a closet or reaching a step goal, counts. Focus on moving forward, three steps at a time, rather than dwelling on one step back.

‍

Today is a new day. It’s a new year. This year, embrace your journey with confidence, positivity, and a plan, and watch your health and happiness grow.

‍