The lessons I instilled in my children constantly challenge me when I apply them. I've told my children from a very young age that their attitudes influence most of their experiences. Taking a candid look at my life, I would benefit from a dose of my own wisdom. How often would family feuds be settled if we changed our attitude? How often would housework, chores, and busyness be embraced with gratitude?

It is also true that improving our health or losing weight is more rewarding and enjoyable if we change how we look at the work and the patience it takes. To start the New Year positively, let's put the adage to work and see if our experiences change based on our new attitude.

Don't make resolutions.

Instead of New Year's resolutions, I recommend creating a vision for the year ahead. Why? A resolution is a firm intent to do or not do something. However, its fatal flaw is that it almost always depends solely on the will of the person who makes it. Eventually, forcing ourselves to do something difficult tends to fail. By contrast, vision is an offering to the Lord. It is sitting with Him imagining, leaning into, and receiving a picture of His highest plans and purposes. A vision extends beyond a year. It's rooted in endurance and foresight, with the Lord's strength as its source and power.

Consider improving your health/body in ways that don't involve weight, size, or measurements.

Many associate weight, size, or body composition with our primary health measure. However, proper health encompasses so much more. Longevity, wellness, and vitality matter most, yet they are often the least valued. Our health is significant on a cellular level, which cannot be measured on a scale. Determine this year to base your health on something that has nothing to do with aesthetics. There can be a wide variety of ways to accomplish this. Here are some suggestions.

• How much water do you consume?
• Blood pressure and heart rate
• Tracking nutrients and not calories
• Sleep Quality
• Energy
• Blood sugar levels

Rather than counting calories or categorizing foods, focus on nutrition.

Our food quality is essential. A calorie is not a calorie. The calorie-in, calorie-out paradigm for weight loss is tricky. Although we cannot argue with the fundamental laws of thermodynamics, how the body uses calories is quite different. It takes more energy to use meat than white bread, for example. This is one of the reasons why it is imperative to focus on food quality when trying to lose weight. Eating more whole foods and avoiding processed foods can make a substantial difference. Additionally, it is crucial to focus on nutrient-dense foods to ensure the body gets the nutrition it needs.

In terms of nutrition, the usable nutrients that affect each cellular function cannot even be compared between a cup of spinach and a cup of cereal. Focusing on nutrients, not calories, is crucial when it comes to healthy eating. Although we should be aware of not consuming more calories than we need, eating "diet" foods to lose weight almost always backfires and causes the opposite effect. Instead, we should focus on eating a wide variety of whole foods, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, and healthy fats, to get our essential nutrients. Eating various foods ensures we get all the nutrients we need for overall health.

Put an end to the start-over mentality.

One of the most significant sources of long-term weight loss success is getting rid of the start over, "tomorrow is a new day," I'll start on Monday mentality. Understanding that each moment is an opportunity to start over is essential. Don't let a single meal, one holiday, or one event ruin another handful of meals or days and unnecessarily derail your success. Ultimately, a consistent approach to your diet and lifestyle choices is the key to achieving long-term weight loss success.