Break up with those dieting and weight loss resolutions. Just say g’bye. More than 95% of the time they lead to feelings of disappointment and failure.

A few months into a new year and you’re suddenly left feeling like you have no self control, you can’t commit, and the fresh start you were so excited for is ruined. Another year of failure.

Rather than go down that path again, make a new deal with yourself. New year, new deal. Let’s make 2020 the year that you support your body and your dancing with healthy choices.

If you started making resolutions around your body or appearance years ago, ask yourself now, “how did those resolutions go?” and “how did they make me feel?”

I’d bet that you weren’t left feeling great. Maybe you were on a brief high imagining yourself slimmer or more toned, or with Isabella Boylston’s body.

The reality is that attaining those physical outcomes alone isn’t going to make you happy. Or make you a better dancer.

To reach your best body the #1 thing that needs to shift is any negativity you have towards your body. If you’re in a place of self-hate you’ll struggle to make any positive changes.

Moving forward, here are some concrete ways you can support yourself in reaching body goals in a lasting way. Let’s move past those temporary successes.

Having been through the ups and downs of weight and body image, I know how disappointing it is. You’re consistently tearing yourself down. It’s exhausting.

For lasting body change:

MINDSET FIRST

Get on the positive self-talk train. See that person staring back at you in the mirror? You’ll be with her for the rest of your life. She deserves love. Unconditional love.

Give yourself daily reminders (actually remind yourself multiple times throughout the day) just how worthy and wonderful you are.

For 2020, pick a simple mantra that you can repeat throughout your days ie “I am worthy of love”, “I am a hard-working and dedicated dancer”, “My body is amazing”, “I am capable of achieving all my goals and dreams.”

By getting the mindset right, you’ll be able to move towards your goals with less stress.

BE A FOOD SCIENTIST

No, I don’t want you mixing weird potions, magic drinks or taking pills to reach your goals…but you have to experiment! Here are some examples:

Give up dairy for a couple weeks and take note of how you feel.

Adjust the macronutrient (carbs, protein, fat) balance of your meals for a couple weeks and take note of how you feel.

Write down your meals for a couple days then look back at what you’ve eaten. Could you use more green vegetables? What about adding more complex carbs for energy? Is your diet lacking healthy fats?

Take a step back to see what’s missing or what might be slowing your progress. Adjust as needed.

For 2020, commit to finding the way of eating that works best for your body. What foods help you to stay energetic, strong and injury free? Discover the answers and you’ll be able to adapt to the changes of life and dance while maintaining your personal best body.

IMPROVE THE RELATIONSHIPS

Your relationship with food…it seems silly but this is something we establish from a young age. Was food looked at as a treat or reward? Did you start restricting or looking at foods as “good” or “bad” from a young age? This relationship need to be unpacked to improve.

Your relationship with your body…maybe someone said something to you directly. Or, you might have gotten general advice to improve “tone” or be “smaller”. It’s even possible you’ve just been influenced by social media and other dancers. Sometimes it feels like the thinnest dancers are the most celebrated.

Whatever the influences, it’s time to adjust your thinking around your body from negative to positive. When you start to acknowledge and thank your body for all that it does (hello, dancing!) you’ll be in a place to move towards goals healthfully.

For 2020, prioritize a positive relationship with food and your body. No foods are bad and none should be completely off limits all the time. By allowing all foods, you’ll never be tempted to binge or overeat. Work on body love wherever you are on your journey.

IN CONCLUSION

Don’t let 2020 be another year of unrealistic expectations that lead to disappointment. Use it as a positive turning point. How can you support yourself? What resources can support you? A New Year can be a vehicle for positive change.

Rather than setting diet or weight loss goals that lead to disappointment, think about ways to shift your thinking towards strong, confident dancing.

If you’re ready to make an investment in yourself and reach your body goals in a positive, healthy way check out The Dancer’s Best Body Program. This program was designed to take you through the process of self discovery (food, body, mindset) that leads to lasting body change. Enrollment opens in January, click here for details and to join the waitlist.

Photo by Natasha Spencer on Unsplash

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The end of December brings that time of year where you sing that song about remembering or forgetting people and start thinking about your New Year’s Resolution. What bad habit do you want to get rid of? What good habits would you like to make a part of your daily or weekly routine? This usually depends on what type of resolution person you are.

Do you actively seek out/work on your goal or do you loose steam by March?  Or even worse, do you not even bother to make one at all?

There are so many different types of goals you can have as a dancer: get your first paid company position, switch companies, get into college or a pre-professional program, fix an aspect of your technique, eat healthier.

Last year my resolution was to find a change. I didn’t exactly know what that entailed, but I knew I wasn’t happy with where I was dancing. I hated the rep I was dancing, I was not being pushed to improve my technique or my artistry, and I was often under rehearsed to the point where I had outside teachers clean my variations.

I knew I needed a change, a positive environment that was going to help me grow as a dancer.

I think everyone should strive to thrive in a positive environment for their New Year’s Resolution. It’s a goal that can either be small and very easy to reach or a bigger more long-term goal.  Here are some tips to finding a more positive place.

Know what you’re not willing to put up with

Many people have a list of deal-breakers they are not willing to put up with when they are dating. It should be the same for where you dance or work. Know what working conditions drive you crazy or even hurt your well-being.

List positive elements of past experiences

Don’t fix what’s not broken. If something works for you keep doing it! Make a list of things/conditions that make you happy. If you move, find those positive elements on your list in another environment.

When looking at a new school or company ask the current dancers about the overall environment

This is why I prefer to audition during company class. You get a feel of what every day in the studio is going to be like with that company. You can talk with dancers and honestly ask them what they like or don’t like about dancing in that company.

Granted, few will admit all of the negatives, but you will get at least one honest response. If I know someone at the company I’m interested in auditioning for, I send them a Facebook message to ask what their experience has been thus far.

Talk with the people that have a negative influence on your well-being

Find a way to talk to the friend, teacher, parent, or relative that has a negative impact on your health. Ask your family to serve more healthy options at meals if you feel that you are not fueling your body correctly.

Talk to friends about how body shaming impacts everyone negatively. Don’t attack your supports. Simply express why this bothers you and offer options for a positive change.

Clean out your social media

Social media can sometimes become a vacuum of “thinspirations”, bashing, and overall negative attitude. Clean out your social media of the negative people in your feed. You don’t need to see that person who constantly complains about their body or their current work situation. Unfollow the people that encourage unhealthy behaviors.

Start every day on the right note

Everyone has different ways to start their days. One way I start the day the positive way is my daily inspirational quote. For my birthday on year a friend gave me 365 inspirational quotes. I saved my favorites and have them pinned around my room, which I can see as I get ready in the morning.

There are apps/email services that can send you a quote each day. Insightoftheday.com is great for offering daily motivational, inspirational, and life quotes via email.

When I was dancing at BalletFleming, a few of us would create custom positive quotes for each of the dancers each week. We had fun with it and made themes for each week including: song lyrics, movie quotes, Chinese proverbs, even Disney character quotes. It’s a fun exercise that bonded the company together and gave inspiration for tough rehearsal days.

Understand that life is a journey and there is no right answer

On New Years Day 2017 I read “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho. It’s a story of a boy that travels the world finding his purpose. He stopped many different places and learned something different in each place.

I took this parable to heart. It made me realize that there’s nothing wrong with continuously searching for what works for you and what makes you you as a dancer and a person. That could mean changing teachers, school, or company. There is no set correct answer of how to reach your goal, it’s different for everyone.

**If you’ve been dragged down in past years because you’ve struggled to reach your body goals, join The Dancer’s Best Body Program in early 2018 – Add your name to the VIP wait list for Bonuses, Savings and Early Enrollment deals**

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