A New Year Resolution to Live Healthier
Eat Right, Diet, and Exercise in the Coming Year and Beyond
How many times do people say they plan on losing weight in the New Year, only to find that their bad eating habits and stationary lifestyles eventually creep back? Adopting huge changes in behavior and sticking to them is difficult. How does one stay motivated? Try out these tips.
Identify the Primary Motivation
Why lose weight or exercise? The reasons may vary from person to person. The important thing is to identify a motivating factor. Here are a few good reasons to make healthy living a priority this year:
- Look better
- Feel better
- Add quality years to life
- Be a role model for the kids
- Enjoy a higher energy level
- Lower cholesterol or blood pressure
- Save money on food
Once a key reason has been identified, write it down on slips of paper and display in strategic locations around the house, office, and car. These will be visible reminders of the daily resolution efforts.
Adopt Healthy Eating Habits
These helpful ideas will go a long way to improving diet patterns.
Gradually introduce changes - The body and mind are resistant to big changes that happen all at once. Try starting with small changes in daily diet such as cutting down on meal portions, replacing a cookie snack with bulky, sweet fruit, or eliminating soda. One may also try cooking with healthier oils such as canola and olive oil. These modifications may seem tiny, but they add up to big calorie savings.
Drink lots of water - Water is an important element of any successful diet. It is recommended that everyone drink at least 6-8 glasses of water daily. This will help to stave off hunger and illness as well.
Replace processed snacks with healthier alternatives – Processed foods are full of preservatives that are unhealthy, and usually full of sugar, salt, and/or saturated fat. Also, they are expensive. Try eating baby carrots or celery sticks dipped in balsamic vinegar and olive oil, apple slices with sugar and cinnamon, popcorn, or a slice of low fat cheese instead of chips and packaged cookies.
Stop eating so much at night – Choose one simple snack and one drink to have at night while watching TV.
Start Up an Exercise Routine
Consult the family physician in order to identify the right type of exercise that will work for you. Many workout clubs will also have personal trainers that can be very supportive. As with alterations to diet, changes in activity levels need to happen slowly. These tips may also help to keep the resolution on the right track.
Get an exercise buddy - Exercising is easier with a friend because there is an additional incentive in keeping a commitment with someone else.
Exercise at your best time of day – Sticking with the exercise plan will be most successful if it is done at a time of day that is best for you. Getting up at five o’clock in the morning to run on the treadmill may be a great way to get started for one who is a morning person but may not be so good for someone who’s energy is higher at night.
Don’t overdo it – Overzealous exercise can cause injury, and injury can stop a resolution in its tracks.
It takes at least twelve weeks to develop new habits. It is possible to adopt a healthy diet and exercise routine without becoming overwhelmed and giving up. Make this year a healthy one by understanding what your primary motivation is, and gradually introducing the necessary changes to achieve your New Year’s goal.
New Year Resolution to Eat Healthy and Lose Weight
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