In 2023, we proposed a new tradition for the New Year: World Health Esteem Month.
Instead of pushing ambitious goal-setting and deprivation, we designated January as a time to appreciate ourselves for who we are and honor the small choices we can make to enhance our lives.
In honor of the second annual World Health Esteem Month, we’re back with practical tips and ideas for how to love yourself as you work toward your goals.
1. Choose a fitness program with structure
With 2024 on the horizon, we came across a Forbes Health/OnePoll study conducted in October of 2023, in which 48% of respondents indicated improving fitness as their top priority in the new year.
We happen to know a thing or two about that.
Here are some things to keep in mind as you look for the fitness program to kick off your year:
- It gets you into a rhythm: It takes around 10 weeks to form a habit, so by the time March ends, your daily workout should feel as natural as brushing your teeth.
- It does the thinking for you: Leg day or upper body? Cardio or abs? This guesswork can be more laborious than the workout itself! Pick a program that does all that planning for you.
- It progresses over time: The point of all this work is to see results, meaning that you will have more strength, mobility, and endurance in month two than you did in month one. Find a program that anticipates that and ups the challenge as you go.
Don’t have a program in mind?
We recommend Shaun T’s new program, DIG DEEPER. It’s a 12-week program designed to reshape your body by building lean muscle mass and reducing body fat through 4 collections of workouts.
2. Choose an eating plan you can stick with
A great companion to your fitness routine is an eating plan that focuses on healthy eating but also doesn’t require deprivation or calorie counting.
When considering how to approach your nutrition this year, look for an eating plan that:
- Allows you to eat the way you love to eat but makes it healthy.
- Helps you work on your mindset so you can sustain both the weight loss and the eating habits.
- Includes recipes so you don’t have to weed through the internet to find your own.
- Incorporates group support and expert guidance — because when you’re starting something new, it’s always good to have a team around you.
Not sure where to start?
We recommend our first-ever nutrition Super Block, the 2B Mindset Super Block.
It’s a 4-week program in which Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Ilana Muhlstein expands on the principles of her eating plan with lessons to help keep you consistent month over month.
If portion control is more your speed, check out Portion Fix, Autumn Calabrese’s container-based approach to getting the results you expect, while you still enjoy the food, drinks, and desserts you love.
3. Choose a supplement to support whole-body health
While we obviously can’t identify all the reasons our motivation flags, sickness, exhaustion, and sore muscles top the list.
Working toward our goals with all the energy and focus we need requires taking care of our body between workouts.
And sometimes, that means supplements that help:*
- Sharpen your focus
- Increase your energy
- Combat exercise-induced muscle soreness
- Jump-start recovery
- Keep you hydrated
Bonus tip: Set up your home gym
Of course, you can get fit with just your body. But adding a membership to BODi can really up your game.
Now for a limited time, when you purchase a 1-Year Annual BODi Membership, we’ll include a 2nd year FREE!
No matter how you decide to celebrate World Health Esteem Month this year, remember to appreciate yourself for who you are as you make changes to reach your goals. You’re worth it.