Before You Set Any Body Goals This Year, Read This!
January is often seen as the month to fix everything. New year. New goals. New pressure to “get it right” this time.
But when it comes to taking action on our body goals in January, most of us skip the most important step; understanding where we’re starting from.
Without that clarity, even the best intentions can falter at the first hurdle, leading to frustration, burnout, and perhaps even giving up yet again.
All too often the lack of results isn’t due to a lack of motivation or a lack of will power; but it all stems from the starting point.
Many of us jump straight into a January reset, using a blueprint and following plans that worked for someone else, without first asking the following essential question:
Where am I at right now?
For example:
Eating habits: What does my typical meal plate look like? How much sugar am actually eating? How often do I eat throughout the day with snacks or grazing?
Alcohol: How many units am I honestly drinking a week? How does it impact my energy and mental health?
Exercise: How active am I throughout the day and week. What obstacles am I allowing to impact my efforts?
Without asking and honestly answering questions like these, it’s impossible to know where to start. And when we’re honest, we start to realise that our perceived habits and actions can significantly differ from our reality.
The importance of a non-judgemental health “audit”
When new clients begin working with me, one of the first things they have to do is complete is a health questionnaire and a simple 3-day food diary.
As the Nutritional Therapist, it helps me to gage their current reality. As for the client - it’s all about a greater awareness of their starting point.
Almost every client tells me it’s an eye-opening experience; not because they’re doing anything “wrong”, but because they finally see patterns they hadn’t noticed before.
Why guilt and shame don’t belong in the process
For many of us women, reflecting on eating habits or exercise routines can bring up feelings of guilt or self-criticism. In this respect we need to remember that this is just information, and this is a neutral “data collection” process.
When we explore this information mindfully and without judgement, it becomes an empowering rather than overwhelming process.
As I often remind clients:
The only way is up! but you can’t move forward, build on, and celebrate your progress without knowing your starting point.
Everyone’s starting point is different
As well as everyone having our own genetic makeup and biochemical individuality; our current personal situations and starting points means that one-size-fits-all fitness and nutrition programmes don’t work for everyone.
For example:
Someone who grazes frequently and struggles with blood sugar crashes may not thrive jumping straight into intermittent fasting.
Someone returning to exercise after a long break may benefit more from mobility, bodyweight movement or yoga before strength training.
Skipping the awareness phase often sets us up for failure because the approach doesn’t match our current reality.
And sometimes improving awareness alone can spark positive change!
So before you dive headfirst into making changes this January, ask yourself “what’s going on right now?’ And make sure that you start from the right place to then make step by step improvements.
Ready for your next step?
Awareness isn’t passive. It’s the beginning of change.
When you take the time to understand your habits, your energy, your stress and your relationship with food, you’re no longer guessing. You’re responding — with intention.
You don’t need to overhaul your life in January. You don’t need more rules or another generic plan. What you need is clarity, support and a starting point that reflects your reality.
That’s where real progress begins — not from pressure, but from understanding.
If you’re ready for personalised support, my Reset Programme is designed to meet you exactly where you are and get you started. Find out more here.