Here’s some tips on setting goals and why setting New Year’s resolutions might not be the best choice for your health, skin care, and fat loss goals…
Close to the end of one year going into and at the beginning of the next year, we celebrate the past and bring in the new for the New Year. For some, that means celebrating with the people they love and then life goes on per usual. For others, life goes on, though they’d like to make some changes with the new year, which are often touted as New Year’s Resolutions. If you fall into the category of many that think about the tradition of making New Year’s resolutions, you might be filled with dread just at the thought of it, causing a sense of nausea and stress.
It’s no surprise, then, that many mental health professionals and scientific research indicates that individuals more frequently than not do not stick to their resolutions and that there are healthier ways to adopt habits for improved success outcomes.
If making New Year’s resolutions makes you feel this way–full of dread and unease–consider skipping or ditching the tradition. There’s plenty of research that suggests this approach might, in fact, be the wisest one to take.The Journal of Substance Abuse published a study in 1989 that showed that, of 200 people studied, 77% of them stuck with their resolutions after a single week, 43% stuck it out for three months, 40% after six months, and only 19% stayed with them for two years out. A 2002 Journal of Clinical Psychology study found that just 46% of individuals reported successfully sticking to their New Year resolutions six months following the start of the new year.
So, how do we move forward with setting reasonable goals and resolutions without feeling discouraged or like a failure? It might mean we need to rethink how we approach New Year’s resolutions–by quite possibly throwing them out the window–and develop a healthy approach to short and long-term goals.
Challenges with New Year’s Resolutions
Houston-based Aesthetician & Body Contouring Specialist, Nicci Pedroni, shares her perspective on the challenges with New Year’s Resolutions. “ I’m not a fan of New Year’s resolutions, and I’ve never quite understood how they’ve lasted so long,” Pedroni continues, “To me, New Year’s resolutions are out-dated to say the least. How many times every year do we make these unsustainable resolutions, especially when it comes to weight-loss and fat-loss?”
Pedroni shares that, every year, she hears so many people set the same New Year’s resolutions– “concur the fat bulge” or “dieting & exercising to live better & overall look better by losing that unwanted stubborn fat.”
“The best way to set a goal or resolution is by finding out your options and what works best for you in particular. What are your needs? What types of goals do you find easiest? Most difficult? Set your goal on those types of questions.”
Donna Lucarini, MSN, APRN, FNP-C based in Houston, TX also shares her perspective on New Year’s Resolutions.
“There is no time like the present to take care of your skin and overall health. Make small sustainable goals and celebrate the wins along the way. New Year’s goals are typically pretty big goals that are hard to keep and then we beat ourselves up for not keeping them,” Lucarini continues, “Our self talk becomes poor and we feel we are a failure.
Alternatively, Lucarinis suggests that , if we start right now, in the present moment, you can begin to develop smaller, more specific goals to get there.
“A goal such as “take care of me,” which I frequently hear my clients say, can be broken down into smaller, specific goals as to what “take care of me” really means. For example, you can start off with a new skincare regime, making it as simple as adding or switching to a good cleanser and sunscreen. Or, maybe you join a monthly membership at a local MedSpa to keep yourself on task and held responsible to show up monthly, similar to the one we offer at DermaTouch RN that offers a wide variety of skin treatments to help you achieve that goal. People have found great success in being able to maintain their skin treatment goals through the program.“
Lucarini also shares to “always celebrate the wins along the way. You feel good about yourself in that moment and have the momentum and readiness to implement another goal toward taking care of yourself.”
The most difficult goals I hear people have a hard time keeping are losing weight and taking better care of themselves.
Since fat loss and living a healthier lifestyle are often a part of what individuals desire at the turn of the New Year, Pedroni often finds she is asked about CoolSculpting to meet fat loss and healthy lifestyle goals.
“CoolSculpting is the number one non -invasive best way to get rid of stubborn fat and to loose those extra inches in the desired area being treated,” Pedroni shares. “Things to consider if CoolSculpting is the right choice for you is that CoolSculpting isn’t a weight-loss solution: it’s a nonsurgical fat-reduction treatment that can help sculpt your body reducing the unwanted bulge,” Pedroni explains, “It works best for relatively fit people within 20 pounds of their ideal weight, who just want to target pockets of unwanted fat that haven’t responded to diet and exercise.”
Dr. Jason Emer, a dermatological surgeon in West Hollywood, California, uses CoolSculpting as both a stand-alone and a complementary body sculpting treatment. “It can be used as a spot treatment after liposuction or surgical contouring, to fine-tune or improve upon more dramatic surgical outcomes,” he says.
Creating Skin and Health-Focused “Resolutions” to Promote Sustainable Change
Here are some tips to help you reach your goals with a healthier approach.
Pick reasonable and sustainable goals.
To obtain goals, they must be reasonable, obtainable, and sustainable over time. If you set your goals too high from the get go, you’re setting yourself up to fail.
Ronda Suder, Career Expert, Communications Specialist and award-winning director, suggests the SMART system for goal-setting. “A great way to set goals is using the SMART system, which stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Timely. In other words, you need to create a goal that is specific, you can measure it to know once it’s reached, it’s attainable and not out of reach, it’s relevant to your overall goals, and there is a timeframe you set to meet the goal.”
Consider timing and what works for you
For you to reach your goals, you need to make sure the timing to reach them works with you and whatever else is going on in your life. If you try to set a goal to reach 15 pounds of weight loss in two months while you have 5 company holiday parties going on that you’re in charge of, that timing might not be the wisest. There isn’t a magical number, like the first of the year, that makes it easier to reach your goals. It’s up to you to trust what works best for your own timing, and set goals based on that.
Let go of feeling the pressure
Lucarini suggests, “If you do not accomplish the daily activity toward the larger goal, don’t beat yourself up. Acknowledge it but tell yourself, “it’s ok,” and start again at that moment. Don’t say “I’ll never succeed and eat that extra Danish or stop that new skin care regime. Get back up and start again. Come up with a positive mantra you can tell yourself. Something like “I am amazing and am capable of creating the exact life I desire!” Be your own best advocate. It’s possible for you to meet your goals!”
Clarify your intentions (what is your “why?”)
Another way to help you stick to and meet your goals is to get very clear on why you want to meet them. Ten of us in a room could all want the exact same thing, but why we want it will inevitably vary–the intention behind why we want something is partly what motivates us to achieve it.
Surround yourself with those who support you
When working towards goals, the last thing you need are naysayers and unsupportive people surrounding you. Make a choice to ensure you are surrounded by people who want you to succeed, cheer you on, and show up for you when things feel challenging.
Seek professional support and accountability
If you think you might need some support along the way, you might choose to work with an accountability partner, life coach, therapist, or your MedSpa expert to remain on track. We don’t need to do things all on our own–we are generally more successful when we are willing to ask for help.
Accept obstacles out of your control
Life happens to all of us, and sometimes, it interrupts our plans. It’s OK. Whatever the case, you’ve got this, and you can navigate any obstacles that might occur. The goal is to keep moving forward. No matter how insignificant each movement might feel, all movements forward help you reach your goal. And even if it feels you’re taking two steps back and only one step forward, we tend to learn from every experience. Again, you’ve got this!
CoolSculpting Goals
For those seeking fat loss, many have considered CoolSculpting to support that goal in the New Year. As such, we thought it would be beneficial to share how to assess CoolSculpting Elite and whether you’re a good candidate for the fat freezing treatment.
Pedroni shares, “Anyone that does not want to go under the knife to get rid of stubborn unwanted fat, then CoolSculpting could be the perfect option.” To determine if you want to move forward with CoolSculpting, here are some steps and goals to consider.
1. Find a trained provider in your area
Schedule a consultation. Many consultations, like those offered at DermaTouch RN, are complementary. You definitely want a practice that has a lot of experience along with real before and after photos they have treated.
2. Discuss exactly what you are wanting from your CoolSculpting treatment
You want to work with your provider to make sure the results you are aligning with realistic results. The CoolSculpting® Elite procedure is not a treatment for weight-loss. It does not replace traditional methods such as diet, exercise.
3. Work with your provider for a customized treatment plan
A customized treatment plan is the next step. Each person has a different body type, and a tailored plan is necessary to support you in meeting your fat loss goals. The treatment area and volume will determine the cost of treatment. Here at DermaTouch RN, we always treat all areas twice, 30 days apart.
Note: The laxity in the skin can be something to think about when treating with CoolSculpting, as this can be a concern for many. CoolSculpting does help in the appearance of lax tissue with some treatments areas more than others–especially submental area treatments. Speak with your provider openly about any concerns you might have.
4. Collect Alle reward points
A great perk to CoolSculpting Elite treatments is the rewards you receive through the Alle program. Points are earned for every treatment of CoolSculpting you complete which are collected in your Alle wallet and can be applied to your next treatment, reducing the cost. Financing is also available for CoolSculpting treatment at several MedSpa and dermatological clinics.
If CoolSculpting isn’t the right approach to fat loss for you, you and your provider can discuss additional alternatives to help you meet your fat loss and healthy lifestyle goals.
Toss Out Those Resolutions for a Healthier Approach
It’s great to have goals, as it helps us get from where we are to where we want to be. With that said, our goals need to be reasonable, so we can achieve them, and relevant so they align with what we desire in our life. Use the tips and guidance above to support you in meeting your goals, whether it’s at the beginning of the year, in the middle, or another time altogether, with a healthy approach and mindset that works best for you. Good luck!
Nicci Pedroni, Aesthetician, Laser Technician, CoolSculpting Specialist
Nicci Pedroni is a Houston-based Aesthetician, Laser Technician, and CoolSculpting Specialist. She has extensive experience working with clients to develop individualized treatment plans that include top-of-the-line aesthetic treatments, such as DiamondGlow™, SkinPen, BBL, CoolSculpting ELITE, CoolTone, Ultherapy, Chemical Peels, and more. Learn more about Nicci and the team of professionals she works with at DermaTouch RN.
Donna Lucarini, MSN, APRN, FNP-C
Donna Lucarini is a Houston-based Nurse Practitioner and Advanced Practice Nurse at DermaTouch RN with a B.S. in Nursing from UT Health Science Center Houston, a Master’s from Chamberlain College of Nursing, and a B.S. in Psychology from Sam Houston State University.
Donna finds her work in women’s health most enjoyable, whether it be in preventative medicine or cosmetic care, with a compassionate perspective to help her patients look and feel their best. Donna works with both male and female patients to provide bioidentical hormone replacement therapy and injectable cosmetic treatments, like dermal fillers and Botox. Learn more about and the team of professionals she works with.
DermaTouch RN offers minimally invasive and non-invasive treatments for men and women in Houston, San Antonio, Spring and Cypress, as well as the surrounding areas of Texas. We are the largest aesthetic practice in the Houston area, and all of our medical spa treatments are performed by a team of nurse practitioners, registered nurses, and aestheticians who receive continuing education to remain abreast of emerging treatments that benefit our patients. We invite you to learn more about our office before your consultation.
