2014 New Year, New You Challenge: Week 2
Welcome to 2014! Here's to a new year and a fresh resolve to set yourself up for long-term success. Hint: It's easier than you think.
Article By: Elly Trickett McNerney
2014 New Year Challenge Week 2
With its cold weather and post-holiday anticlimax (not to mention uncomfortably snug pants), January is not the kindest month. Why, then, do so many of us also spend the first few weeks beating ourselves up about what we ate and drank in December? Right here and now, we are officially declaring the holidays Behind Us, and are ready to help you focus on your goals for 2014. Whether you’re new to Weight Watchers, or simply looking for help you recommitting or sticking to the Plan, we’ll help you succeed.

Your goal might be a sizeable one, or it might be just a few pounds away. Whichever camp you fall into, contemplating a whole year stretched ahead of you can feel overwhelming. Instead of worrying about the next 12 months, take our Challenge to get a far more manageable set of activities, ideas and motivation. Read the articles over the next four weeks, and head to the Community to participate in the Challenge with others looking to start the year off right.

Week 2

Last week you set a long-term, non-weight-related goal, and tried a new food. This week, we’re setting the bar a little higher. We want you to try even more new foods, and new recipes too. To make that easier to achieve, we’re asking you to plan (and shop for) a week’s menu.

Yes, it’s a big task if you're not used to being that rigid, but it’s so worth it. Look around on the Message Boards. In many people’s signatures, you’ll find the words, “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” Take it from them: standing in front of the fridge is no place to plan your next meal.

Instead, take some time at the beginning of your tracking week, or on a Saturday morning, or even a midweek evening — whenever works for you — to plan a week’s worth of meals.

The challenge in keeping this great habit going, though, is balancing routine (going for the same few meals that you know how to cook and that require staple ingredients), with variety (lemon chicken again?).

So, when you plan your next few meals, make room for something brand new in the line-up. Look at the featured recipes on the Food and Recipes page; pick up a food magazine next time you’re out, or browse and discuss ideas in the Community Recipe Swap. Or, if you’re feeling really brave, grab a cookbook, fan through it with your eyes closed, and vow to make whatever you land on. If it’s a high-calorie nightmare, think of ways to lighten it up. (Subscribers can use the Recipe Builder to find lighter alternatives to many ingredients.

Make your shopping list with items grouped by type — even by aisle, if you're that familiar with your grocery store. Not only will this help you get around the store (and away from temptation) more quickly, it will also show you at a glance if the make-up of your diet is a little out of whack — for example, if you have an over-reliance on packaged goods rather than fresh. For more tips on navigating the supermarket, check out the Shopping section in the Spaces tool.

This is a great habit to get into; we promise it’s worth the effort. Good luck this week — and don’t forget to come back next week to continue the 2014 New Year, New You Challenge.