It’s that time of year again.  Holiday parties, family gatherings, random get-togethers.  We all gorge on insane amounts of food (well, at least it seems like it, huh?) and booze.  We make it to the gym less and less or not at all! We go into somewhat of a hibernation mode. But, fear not, because the new year is just around the corner.  And that is when we wipe the slate clean and start over.  This will be the year we do things different.  The year we change all of our unhealthy habits and make health and wellness a priority.  We [re]commit to the gym and vow on all things holy that this will be THE year! Right!? Well, if history has told us anything, it is that while our intentions are good, our preparation and stick-to-it-ness are not…at least not long term.  Does this all sound familiar? If not, good for you!  You are the minority! Keep doing what you are doing!  For the rest of you keep reading.  It doesn’t have to be like this! Help is on the way!  Check out these 10 tips:

Find Your Motivation

What is your driving force? What is your motivation for 2017? Do you want to look better in your clothes, feel more energetic, or simply improve your health? Get clear about what you want. Define and then REFINE your “WHY.” I have talked about finding your “why” many times and there is a reason for that – it is the single most important and crucial factor in finding long term, sustainable success. With a powerful enough “why” you can overcome almost ANY road block or setback. So, FIND YOUR MOTIVATION, YOUR “WHY” and then use that to inspire you throughout your journey. Check out “Some Motivation Advice (that’s actually useful)” for some additional help with this one!

 

Have a Plan

If you were to go on a long road trip, you wouldn’t just jump in the car and go. If you did, you’d arrive hungry, tired, and fatigued. That’s the same way you’d feel if you jumped into a whole new lifestyle with no planning. Before January 1st arrives, outline the changes you want to implement and decide how you’ll fit them into your schedule. Keep in mind that it may be best to take steps rather than tackle everything at once.

Need help setting up a plan?  Contact us to set up your complimentary strategy session!

Make Goals

Goals help measure progress. If you don’t know where you want to end up, you won’t really know how to get there. When making your goals, you need to make SMART goals:

◾Specific

◾Measurable

◾Attainable

◾Realistic

◾Timely

For example, a SMART goal would be something like, “I will walk for 15 minutes 3 days for one week.” Or, “I will prepare one new healthy recipe each week for the month of January.”  Click here for more on the importance of goal setting.

 

Track What You Eat

Looking closely at what you eat is often an eye-opening experience. MyFitnessPal is a great app to keep track of everything you put into your body. You don’t have to do it for the rest of your life, but it is a great habit to start. Tracking will help you tweak your diet so that you can still enjoy foods you love without sabotaging your weight loss or healthy eating efforts.

 

Use Reliable Resources

It may be tempting to try a fad diet, or the newest workout craze, but these are usually unrealistic, difficult to maintain, and sometimes even dangerous. Instead, find a reliable source of information to help you understand nutrition. The USDA offers a number of tools and resources, or you can work with our Certified Nutrition Consultant directly to custom tailor a plan to align with your specific goals.

 

Eat Breakfast Every Day

Surely you’ve heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It is! Eat a big healthy breakfast as early as possible. It will give you more energy, lead you to make healthier choices during the day, and keep you feeling full so you eat less later on.

 

Fill Up on Vegetables

Vegetables are filled with nutrients, water, fiber, and very few calories. If you fill half of your plate with vegetables, you’ll get full faster and cut down your calories without feeling deprived. Use herbs and spices to jazz up vegetables instead of using butter and/or salt to flavor them.

 

Exercise (Yes, I know this one may be pretty obvious)

In order to burn calories at a faster rate and build a healthy body, you’ll need to incorporate exercise into your life. Take it slow at first, and then increase your time and/or intensity once you feel comfortable. If you haven’t exercised in a while, talk to your doctor to make sure that you are healthy enough to begin an exercise plan.

If you need help developing an exercise regimen, click below to schedule your complimentary strategy session!

Take It Slow

A major mistake many people make when trying to tackle a health resolution is trying to do everything at once. This is almost always a recipe for disaster. Spend a few weeks just trying to achieve 1-2 goals at a time. When you have established new good habits, put a couple more goals on your plate. Remember: You want to make permanent lifestyle changes, and these will take time to implement.

 

Be Prepared for Lapses

A lapse is when you temporarily “fall off the wagon.” This is a normal part of the process; no one is perfect. It is important for you to take a moment to recognize that you got sidetracked, but don’t use it as an excuse to throw in the towel. Every day is a new chance to start over, so return to your healthy lifestyle immediately.

So there you have it! 10 tips to help get you started in 2018…or now! Why wait?

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