Happy New Year! It's the first week of 2017, and if you're one of over 1 1/2 million people making resolutions this year, they fall into one of 5 categories - Get Healthy, Get Organized, Learn Something New, Spend Less/Save More, or Travel more. Getting Healthy - or a variation - is typically the number 1 resolution every year. There are multiple reasons that people make this goal, but unless you're planning to make a lifestyle change, you'll be among the millions that may already have given up this goal for the year.
Getting Healthy isn't something we can do for a day, a week or even a month and achieve any lasting change. Fast fixes that drop weight quickly often lead to gaining the weight back quickly. A lot of times we think of other people when we resolve to be more healthy. Healthy doesn't mean being a size 0 and weighing 100 lbs. Unless you're in grade school, or around 5 ft tall, those numbers would mean you're extremely unhealthy. Our lives are focused so much on unhealthy images and driven by multimillion dollar advertising telling us what healthy should be for everyone. The only people that can decide what makes YOU healthy is you and your doctor.
If you suffer from illnesses your doctor feels are attributed to extra weight or unhealthy eating habits, then a change can prolong your life and help you feel better each day. However, running on the treadmill for 30 minutes and then going to get a milkshake will not lead to weight loss success.
To find any success in life, we have to create a plan we can live with everyday. Start small. Choose one area in your life to change to begin the health journey. Once you feel confident with the one change, you can begin to add another, and continue until you begin to see the healthy results you're seeking for YOUR body.
The following is a list of items you can begin to incorporate in your day to lead you to attaining your health goals -
Find an accountability partner - One of the main reasons we fail at any goals in life is that we don't share them with anyone. If we can keep our goals a secret, no one will know if we fail - so it's easier to get off track. When we write down our goals and share them with someone we trust who will help us each day, we find success much more easily. It doesn't mean there won't be temptations or struggles, but we have someone encouraging us along the way.
Start each day with a positive affirmation - There are apps for that, there are small little books, there are calendars with a positive thought for each day. You can even set up the app to show the affirmation as the first thing you see when you pick up your phone in the morning. A positive thought each morning can lead us through a positive day.
Make Grocery Lists and Meal Plans - If you're extremely tempted by food that is currently in your house -which led to the unhealthy place you find yourself - and you can't possibly throw money away that is attached to those food products - get help. Ask a friend or family member to take or throw away any open containers of food and package up the unopened containers to give away to organizations that help those in need. Then make plans for healthy food - and only purchase those items. If this is difficult, there are an abundance of websites that will meal plan for you and send you the meals you need - or ingredients to cook the meals. Those can be pricey, so if just being in a grocery store is too tempting, send a friend with your list and money to shop for you until you find strength to conquer the addiction of unhealthy food.
Move your body - Find a movement that works for you. It could be walking, machines at a gym, or exercise classes - I of course recommend yoga! However, each person is drawn to different types of movement. Try different options out. Go with a friend to support you in your goal to be healthy.
Daily Journal - Writing down what we eat, drink and do is an amazing way to help stay on track. Sometimes we don't realize ALL we are putting in our bodies each day. There are an abundance of free fitness tracking apps for the phone that allow you to document food, water intake, and exercise. Not only is writing things down important, but the app helps us see the calories in vs. calories out. Amazingly it can take one minute to indulge in a LOT of calories - and a whole hour of exercise to burn that same number of calories. I know - it's not fair - but this is how weight creeps up on us over time and we're faced with either buying bigger clothes, or making better food and movement choices.
Plan for Setbacks - Depending on age and body type, it may take a LONG time to notice any improvement. Numbers on a scale don't move down as easily as we get older. Remembering you're choosing a lifetime commitment to be healthy - that helps make everything seem easier. This doesn't mean you're doomed to never celebrate a birthday, attend a holiday gathering or take a vacation. Making healthy choices means we're eating less of the food we know aren't good for us - take one bite and throw it away - take one drink and pour it out, order food that will help us stay on track.
One thing to always remember - this is our body - our life - and each day is our choice. You can do anything you put your mind into doing!
You are wonderful!
You are beautiful!
You are awesome!
