So, you want this year to be the year you aim high. You want to stop worrying about how you look. You dream of the day you get dressed loving your body. You can’t remember a time when you didn’t shy away from the scale and the mirror because it’s been so long.-> Do not hesitate to join my newsletter list. Be on the lookout for a four-week program I plan to unveil soon about how you too can love your body! Subscribe at www.alexandriawellness.com.What will it really take to start living a lifestyle that leads to this amazing feeling you so crave?It will take…

• • Developing small, repeatable, and easy habits which will bolster your willpower and discipline
• • Choosing someone you respect to hold you accountable
• • An experienced and caring coach
• • Daily exercise
• • Fueling your body with quality and ample sleep, nourishing foods and stress resilience practices (to ward off those cravings!), and tons of self-love
• • An approach to menopause that will compliment your wellness plan

  How you choose to live the next 50 plus years of your life, not just a weekly or monthly detox or cleanse, will result in that feeling you so want. The ability to overcome challenges-- like sticking with a wellness and fitness plan-- can be attributed to, scientists say, a simple yet hugely important character trait: optimism. What?! Yep…Optimists are healthier. They have better cardiovascular health, have better social networks to support them, and bounce back from adversity quicker than pessimists.  The greatest finding from the expansive world of research about optimism, to me, is that optimists know much more about their own health, and how to improve it (or prevent serious illness) than pessimists.So back to our main story. What are the four reasons optimists are fitter?

1. Motivation: Optimists know how to develop and maintain motivation for their health and fitness and how to overcome lack of motivation.
2. Personal Health 101: Optimists know more about their health and how to maintain their health.
3. Less Stress: Optimists have less stress because they find ways to overcome challenges.
4. Support System: Optimists tend to have a built-in support network for when they get off track. Their support network helps them get back on it!

So, although it sounds silly, developing optimism is yet another strategy I use to help Alexandria Wellness clients find their true wellness anchor. This isn’t made up-- this is based on hard science.You might be wondering how you can work toward becoming an optimist. Here are my top three tips:

1. Practice positive self-talk-- “I can,” “I will,” “I choose to.”
2. Practice gratitude and mindfulness-- When you find yourself stuck on the negatives, shift your focus to the things in your life that bring you joy. It brings you immediately to the present and you get an immunity boost!
3. Surround yourself with like-minded people who also prioritize their health and wellness.

  So, if this is the year you are finished feeling like you don’t measure up, if this is the year you want to stop counting calories and fretting over the number on the scale or your jeans label, if this is the year you want to create your own brand of wellness-- start with optimism!And sign up for the Alexandria Wellness newsletter at www.alexandriawellness.com. Be on the lookout for our four-week program, coming soon, that will help you learn to love your body. Yes, you!