22 Things To Do In 2022 To Make Weight Loss, and Life, A Whole Lot Easier

This post will be short and sweet. It is a loving reminder to always put yourself at the top of your to-do list.

Without good health and well-being, we are limited in what we can do, enjoy and plan for our futures.

As I like to remind my coaching clients, you can not pour from an empty cup.  Even a half empty cup often can not provide enough sustenance.

Taking the necessary time to refresh and revive ourselves, especially as we face the uncertainties of the new Omicron Covid virus mutation, is more essential now than ever.

As we look toward 2022, there’s no celebration that Covid is behind us.  The reality that Covid will be with us for another year, maybe for the rest of our lives, is taking up real estate in our brains.

We are beginning to realize the emotional toll and the lost opportunities to gather with family, friends and colleagues we will continue to face in the months and years to come.

Once again, we find ourselves recalculating, rerouting, and shifting life navigation strategies in recognition of the challenges that lay ahead.

But by putting to work the skill of planning in advance, we can rescue ourselves in times of stress.

Planning to control what we can control can ease a troubled mind.

Let’s plan like a ninja for 2022.

Failing to plan is planning to fail.

I prefer to approach the new year with a Well-being Manifesto, rather than a list of “goals.”

This manifesto directs my focus for the coming year.

But  why wait for 2022 to get started?

Design yours today.  Please use mine as inspiration and adopt it lock, stock and barrel if it makes sense to you.

Here’s my Well-being Manifesto for 2022.

I decided to pick 22 things I could do in honor of 2022.

Where appropriate, I have linked each one to a past blog post so you can read more about why they’re key to weight loss, good health and well-being.

1. Protect my liver.
2. Feed my microbiome — FIBER BABY!
3. Shop the perimeter of the market for fresh, seasonal whole foods.
4. Eat nutrient dense food: Compose 2/3rds of my plate with a rainbow of veggies and fruits.
5. Eat protein at each meal, think an amount the size of a deck of cards.
6. Hydrate: Drink water. Drink some more water. According to Premium Waters’ website, “Just one percent dehydration has been found to decrease worker productivity by 12 percent.”
7. Keep insulin low.  Be cognizant of the glycemic load of my favorite foods.
8. Ditch the sugar and flour.  Plan 24 hours in advance for exceptions.
9. IF. Have a specified eating window and only eat within that time frame.
10. Establish a food protocol.
11. Establish a 24 hour in Advance food plan for the next day.
12. Stop snacking.
13. Manage my mind with a regular practice of thought downloads and Model practice.
14. Feel my feelings — don’t try to mute them or buffer them away with food or alcohol.
15. Avoid all artificial sweeteners.
16. Practice new habits like a boss.
17. If it’s a plant, eat it. If comes from a plant, don’t.
18. Plan, shop for and prep food in advance. I’m worth it!
19. Make self care a priority.
20. Eat fat, but not seed oils.
21. Plan and set goals. Track progress.

While all are important, which ones resonate with you?

If this list strikes you as overwhelming or daunting, remember the minimum baseline strategy.

Start with something small that you know you can commit to 100% and follow through on it at least 80% of the time.

And most importantly, treat yourself as you would a best friend.  Shower yourself with compassion, curiosity and love.  Love especially for  ALL your vulnerable, fallible, well-intentioned humanness.