SALT LAKE CITY — It’s a new year, which means people are back to working toward big goals. But remember, even small changes can make a big difference in your life.

Let’s Get Moving Host Maria Shilaos spoke with Nicole Kerneen, registered dietitian and certified personal trainer, to discuss some small changes we can all make for a healthier and happier new year.

 

Kerneen said it all starts with shifting your perspective. Ask yourself, “What did I do last year that I could do differently this year?”

“Let go of expectations of an outcome around something because the only thing we actually have control of is what we are actually doing at any given moment.”

It doesn’t have to be anything grand because it could feel overwhelming to try to be consistent with big changes. And consistency is key.

Take weight loss for example. Think about how many steps you’re averaging in a day and consider increasing your average by just a couple hundred more steps. It’s about working with where you are right now.

Listen to your body

Because your body is built for survival, it’s important to listen to it, especially when you’re eating.

“The minute that our bodies are all of a sudden not receiving what it needs or not receiving what it’s used to, the alarms are going to start going off,” said Kerneen. “So people will have more tendencies of being more hungry or start getting really obsessive about food.”

Kerneen said it helps to understand the sensation of satiation without feeling too full, which she described as being 75% to 80% full when you are done with your meal.

Try eating every four hours to help your body start following a rhythm. And try to include more nutrition in your diet.

“If we’re trying to nourish ourselves and we’re eating a lot of non-nutrient-dense foods, chances are, we’re physically not going to feel good,” Kerneen said.

Start small

Remember, you can always start something today that you weren’t doing yesterday, said Kerneen.

“Sometimes we just have to break some of these goals down a little bit so that we can build on our successes.”

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