The Block Club Chicago Podcast

New Year, Same You. Why Most Resolutions Fail And What To Do Next

Feb 5, 2026
Dr. Elizabeth Simkus, medical director of the Prevention Center at Rush and certified in lifestyle medicine, explains why New Year’s resolutions often fail. She discusses assessing lifestyle areas like sleep, stress, diet and social connection. She outlines SMART, manageable goals, how medications like GLP-1 fit with lifestyle changes, and how the Prevention Center supports sustained behavior change.
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ADVICE

Start Small With SMART Goals

  • Start with small, SMART goals you can sustain instead of lofty one-time resolutions.
  • Check in regularly for accountability and build on small wins to create lasting change.
INSIGHT

Treat All Health Domains Together

  • Lifestyle medicine looks at diet, activity, sleep, stress, mood and social connections together.
  • Addressing all these areas improves prevention and management of chronic conditions.
ADVICE

Measure Behaviors, Not Just The Scale

  • Avoid starting with a target weight number; instead set measurable behavior goals that lead to weight loss.
  • Use non-scale victories and metabolic markers to track meaningful progress.
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