A Different Way to Think About New Year’s Resolutions

As we approach a new year, conversations around New Year’s resolutions start popping up everywhere—what we’re going to quit, cut out, restrict, or finally “get under control.” This was the conversation I started having with my husband as we boarded our holiday flight this week.

And while reflection is valuable, I want to offer a slightly different perspective as you think about 2026.

If you choose to make a resolution this year, I believe it can be far more powerful and far more sustainable, to focus on something you want to ADD, rather than something you want to eliminate.

Why Adding > Eliminating

Elimination-based resolutions often come from a place of frustration or self-criticism:

• “I need to stop being inconsistent.”

• “I need to quit sugar.”

• “I need to stop missing workouts.”

These goals aren’t wrong, but they can feel heavy and hard to sustain. When we focus only on what we’re trying to remove, we don’t always give ourselves a clear path forward and personally, this approach has always made me want to rebel! Maybe a personality trait?

Addition-based intentions, on the other hand, are rooted in growth and support:

• Adding movement that feels good

• Adding structure to your week

• Adding moments of care, fuel, or recovery

Instead of asking “What’s wrong with me?”, we ask:
“What would support the version of me I’m becoming?”

The Power of Action-Based Intentions

One of the biggest reasons resolutions fail is that they’re too broad or elusive:

• “Get healthier”

• “Be more consistent”

• “Take better care of myself”

Good intentions—but hard to act on.

For an intention or habit to actually stick, it needs to be:

• Specific

• Actionable

• Repeatable

If you can’t clearly answer “What does this look like on a random Tuesday?”, it’s probably too vague.

How to Create a Habit That Actually Sticks

Here’s a simple framework you can use when setting an intention for 2026:

1. Choose One Thing to ADD

Ask yourself:

• What would make my days feel more supported?

• What’s one small behavior that would positively impact my energy, consistency, or mindset?

Examples:

• Add two strength sessions per week. Figure out what days and times that would be possible.

• Add a 10-minute walk after dinner

• Add 30 grams of protein to breakfast.

• Add a consistent bedtime routine

2. Anchor It to an Existing Routine

Habits stick best when they’re attached to something you already do.

Instead of:
“I’ll stretch more.”

Try:
“After I brush my teeth at night, I’ll stretch for 5 minutes.”

Instead of:
“I’ll move more.”

Try:
“On Mondays and Thursdays, I’ll attend class or complete my workout.”

3. Keep It Intentionally Small

You don’t need a complete life overhaul on January 1st.

Small actions done consistently > big actions done occasionally. One of my clients shared with me that her 2025 resolution was to make her bed every morning. A small task that really had a huge mental impact on her over the year. She was able to stick to this new habit and feels great about her accomplishment!

If it feels almost too easy, you’re probably doing it right.

4. Measure by Follow-Through, Not Perfection

Success isn’t:

• Never missing a workout

• Eating “perfectly”

• Staying motivated all year

Success is:

• Returning after a missed day

• Keeping promises you made to yourself more often than not

• Building trust in your own consistency

A Gentle Reminder as You Enter 2026

You don’t need to become a new person this year.
You don’t need to “fix” yourself.

You might just need to add one supportive habit that makes showing up feel more doable.

At Body By Hannah, we believe progress is built through intentional action, consistency over intensity, and habits that fit into real life—not against it.

If you choose a resolution for 2026, let it be something that adds strength, structure, or care to your life. And remember—you don’t have to do it alone. 💛

Get It or Ditch It: The Pro's and Con's of the Most Popular Fitness Trackers

Love-Hate Relationship With Fitness Trackers

I have a love-hate relationship with fitness trackers. On one hand, they can be powerful tools—offering insight into your sleep, recovery, daily activity, and even nudging you to move when you’ve been sitting too long. They can help you make smarter decisions about workout intensity, nutrition, and habits that support overall health.

On the other hand, trackers aren’t flawless. Some data needs to be taken with a grain of salt, and it’s easy to let numbers dictate how we feel instead of balancing the data with our own intuition.

In this post, I’m breaking down the pros and cons of today’s most popular fitness trackers—Apple Watch, Oura Ring, Whoop, and Fitbit—to help you decide which one might support your goals… or if you should ditch them altogether.

Apple Watch

💡 Disclaimer: I recently ditched mine because I didn’t like all the notifications and I couldn’t use it for sleep because it was too clunky for me keep on and try to sleep.

Pros:

• Combines smartwatch + health features.

• Seamless iPhone integration.

• We used it to connect to our BBH.Fit heart rate tracking app, CorSync when running fitness challenges to be able to track workout completions. And for this reason alone, I will always come back to it.

• Activity “rings” gamify daily goals if you’re into that sort of thing.

• Highly accurate heart rate monitor during steady exercise (Wallen et al., J Med Internet Res, 2016).

Cons:

• Short battery life (18–24 hrs).

• Sleep tracking is basic.

• Notifications can be distracting.

Oura Ring

💡 Best for sleep and recovery insights.

Pros:

• Sleek, discreet design.

• One of the most accurate consumer sleep trackers (de Zambotti et al., Behav Sleep Med, 2017).

• Battery lasts 5–7 days.

• Focuses on readiness and recovery trends.

Cons:

• Limited workout tracking. In fact, I could rarely lift with it on because it actually cut off blood circulation in the finger I had it on!

• Subscription required for full data.

• Needs precise sizing for accuracy. 

Whoop Strap

💡 Best for athletes focused on optimizing recovery and performance. I have NOT tried this tracker yet, but plan to in the next few weeks to see how I like it.

Pros:

• Recovery-first approach: HRV, sleep, strain tracking.

• Comfortable to wear 24/7, waterproof.

• Regular updates included with subscription.

• Reliable for athletic recovery monitoring (Sensors, 2021).

Cons:

• No display (everything is in the app). So this might solve my biggest issue with the Apple Watch.

• Subscription required (no one-time purchase).

• Data-heavy, which may overwhelm casual users.

Fitbit

💡 Best for beginners who want accountability on a budget. And I LOVE the Fit Bit for that reason

Pros:

• Affordable and user-friendly.

• Variety of models at different price points.

• Tracks steps, workouts, and sleep in a simple way.

• Step tracking reasonably accurate (JMIR Mhealth Uhealth, 2020).

Cons:

• Less precise during high-intensity workouts.

• Advanced features locked behind Premium.

• Battery life varies (2–7 days depending on model).

• Limited “deep dive” data compared to Whoop or Oura.

The Bottom Line

No tracker is perfect, and none of them can replace your own body awareness.

• Apple Watch → Great for tech lovers who want a smartwatch + fitness features.

• Oura Ring → Ideal if you’re serious about sleep and recovery trends.

• Whoop → Best for athletes aiming to optimize training and recovery.

• Fitbit → Perfect for beginners wanting simple, budget-friendly accountability.

The key? Use the data as guidance, not gospel. Let your tracker highlight patterns, but let your body have the final say.

Let me know in the comments what fitness tracker(s) you’ve tried and what you did and didn’t love about it!

Why the TikTok “Three-Bite Rule” Might Be Doing More Harm Than Good

I’ll be honest—I don’t even have a TikTok. 😂 But word travels fast, and lately I keep hearing about this viral trend called the “Three-Bite Rule.” The idea is that when you’re faced with an indulgent food—say cake, cookies, or fries—you should only allow yourself three bites before putting the fork down.

Sounds clever, right? Just enough to “taste without going overboard.” But here’s the problem: this isn’t actually mindful eating—it’s restriction in disguise.

Why the “Three-Bite Rule” Isn’t So Healthy

1. It’s rooted in scarcity, not freedom. Telling yourself you can only have three bites immediately creates pressure, guilt, and the likelihood of overdoing it later.

2. Humans thrive with freedom. Studies show that when people give themselves unconditional permission to eat, cravings often decrease, stress lowers, and food loses its “power.”

3. Restriction backfires. The more we tell ourselves “no,” the more likely we are to obsess over the very food we’re trying to control.

Bottom line: this “rule” teaches people to fear food rather than enjoy it.

What to Try Instead: Creating Freedom Around Food

If rules don’t work, what does? Food freedom. Here are a few ways you can start practicing it:

• Get curious about your food: I truly believe when you sit down to eat and marvel over how each ingredient is healing and fueling your body, you’ll not only want to fuel your body with nutrient-dense foods most of the time. You’ll leave room for fun without guilt- because eating certain foods just because they bring you joy or nostalgia is enough of a reason to include them.

• Slow down & check in: Instead of counting bites, notice how the food tastes, how it makes you feel, and when you naturally feel satisfied and full.

• Remove “good” and “bad” labels: Food is food. Some choices fuel your body differently than others, but attaching morality creates unnecessary stress.

• Trust your body: This honestly might be the hardest truth to believe but I promise , over time, you’ll notice your body actually craves balance when you let go of rigid rules.

My Personal Take:

I can honestly say that embracing food freedom has changed my life.

When I let go of strict rules:

• My stress around food decreased.

• Maintaining a healthy weight became easier and more sustainable.

• My gut health improved (hello better digestion 👋).

• And maybe most importantly—I’m just happier.

This is why I coach my clients to chase freedom over restriction. Health isn’t found in TikTok rules—it’s built in sustainable habits and a positive relationship with food.

Want More Food Freedom Inspo?Here are a few Instagram accounts I love that share incredible resources around this approach:

• @find.food.freedom- love her sarcastic approach

• @thewellful- simple quick Inspo you can use as mantras for the day

• @nutritionstripped - her genuine caring approach really shines through

Comment below and tell me—what food rule have you been holding onto that you’re ready to break free from?”

WANT MORE DIRECTION?

Start your journey at Body By Hannah by booking a fitness consultation. In this one hour meeting, we cover, in depth, your fitness goals, your current exercise and nutrition habits, and any relevant health history. You’ll also perform a movement assessment so we can spot any muscular imbalances, assess your fitness level, and see your strengths and weaknesses. It helps YOU get clarity on the best path forward to reach your health goals and helps US develop an appropriate starting point for your personalized fitness plan.

Find Freedom with Food: 3 Simple Ways to Practice Mindful Eating

In a world filled with fast food, constant distractions, and the glorification of multitasking, it’s no wonder so many of us struggle with our relationship with food. We eat on autopilot, scrolling through our phones or rushing through meals without truly tasting or enjoying them. But what if we consider a more mindful approach to eating? It could transform not only your relationship with food but also your health and well-being?

Mindful eating is a concept that we often focus on practicing with our nutrition clients. It’s the practice of being fully present in the moment, tuning into your body’s signals, and savoring every bite. It’s not a diet, a set of rules, or about restriction—it’s about awareness and enjoyment. By adopting a mindful approach to meals, you can more easily maintain a healthy weight, improve digestion (more important than many of our clients realize), and create a more connected and pleasurable dining experience. 

Here are three simple but powerful tips to help you cultivate mindful eating habits:

1. Slow Down & Engage Your Senses

I’m one of the fastest eaters I know! One of the easiest ways for me to practice mindful eating is to simply slow down by putting the fork down between bites and chewing thoroughly. When you eat quickly, your body doesn’t have time to register fullness, which can lead to overeating. Slowing down allows your body to properly digest food, supports weight management, and enhances the overall experience of eating. This Eating Slowly Journal worksheet is an example of how we implement the practice with our nutrition clients .

How to do it:

- Put down your fork between bites.

- Chew slowly and thoroughly, noticing the texture, flavors, and aromas of your food.

- Take a deep breath before starting your meal to center yourself in the present moment.

2. Eliminate Distractions & Be Present

Also guilty of this myself. I’m a master multitasker! Ever found yourself eating an entire meal while watching TV or scrolling through your phone—only to realize you barely remember eating it? When we eat distracted, we disconnect from our hunger and fullness cues, making it easier to overeat or feel unsatisfied.

How to do it:

- Turn off screens and create a peaceful, distraction-free eating environment.

- Focus on the food in front of you—observe its colors, smells, and textures.

- If eating with others, engage in meaningful conversation and enjoy the moment together.

3. Honor Your Hunger & Fullness Cues

Our bodies are incredibly intuitive, but years of diet culture and stress eating can dull our natural hunger and fullness signals. Mindful eating helps you reconnect with those cues, allowing you to eat when you’re hungry and stop when you’re comfortably full—rather than when your plate is empty.

How to do it:

- Before eating, ask yourself, “Am I truly hungry, or am I eating out of boredom, stress, or habit?”

- Check in with yourself halfway through the meal—are you still hungry or satisfied?

- Practice gratitude for your food and how it nourishes your body.

The Freedom That Comes with Mindful Eating

By embracing mindfulness around meals, you can break free from restrictive eating patterns, guilt, and emotional eating. You’ll cultivate a healthier relationship with food, enjoy improved digestion, and feel more present in your daily life. Eating becomes a nourishing, enjoyable experience rather than just another task to check off your to-do list.

So, next time you sit down for a meal, take a breath, slow down, and savor every bite. Your body—and mind—will thank you! And if you think having a coach to help you stay accountable to these practices while you work to adopt better nutritional habits, please reach out to us! Apply for coaching with one of our amazing BBH trainers who are also certified nutrition coaches. We all get by a little better with a little help.