Every year, thousands of New Year’s fitness resolutions get made and forgotten, often within a couple of days. There are a variety of reasons why these resolutions fail, and it’s sad every time, because each one represents someone’s hope for a healthier future.
You can make a change. You can live a healthier lifestyle. If you don’t know where to start, start here:
I’ll make one healthy change per month.
Overhauling your life in one fell swoop is usually a recipe for disaster. Very few people can make numerous giant changes and expect them to stick.
Instead, make a small change, give it time to catch on, then make another one.
Again, there are very few people who live such a healthy lifestyle that they couldn’t come up with 12 healthy changes to implement this year. What are yours?
Some to think about: organic produce instead of non-organic, cooking one extra meal at home each week, going to the gym four times per week instead of three, drinking water instead of anything else, taking an after-dinner walk each night, or trying one new vegetable every week.
I’ll keep reading.
There is so much wellness information (and misinformation) out there, it’s hard to know where to start and what to believe. What’s worse is that the sides get so polarized, they often refuse to consider the other viewpoint.
Read about what it means to go paleo, dairy-free, gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan, GMO-free, and so on. Don’t turn up your nose at these lifestyle choices until you understand the benefits and the downsides. I don’t believe there’s any “correct” diet for everyone. I, for example, don’t crave meat, don’t especially enjoy meat, and I don’t miss meat, but some people say they couldn’t live without it. (Now, I would encourage you to try, just to see if that’s true or if you’re making it up because you love hunting and think vegans are silly.)
Learn about what certain foods can do in your body. Learn about why dairy isn’t ideal for humans. Learn about nightshades. Learn why certain oils shouldn’t be used for frying. Read counterarguments on all these points. Make a decision after you’ve seen both sides, in the cases where there are two sides.
I’ll try one new activity.
Now, a year’s a long time, so you could try five or 10 new activities. But let’s start with one.
Set a date. Pick something active that you’ve never done before–tango dancing, Pilates reformer, CrossFit, horseback riding, whatever. And do it. See what it feels like to move your body that way. Maybe you’ll love it and have a new way to stay fit. Maybe you won’t, but then you’ll know.
I’ll train for something.
Training for an event changes the way you view your workouts and your meals. You’ll improve physically if you follow the program, of course, but you’ll also improve your discipline, determination, sense of adventure, awareness, confidence, and mental toughness. Consider a 5k or a marathon (even if you have to walk part of it), a special hike (up a mountain or a portion of the Appalachian Trail), or a recital or competition (like at the end of a round of dance lessons).
Having a specific goal like that, and a specific program to follow, is a powerful tool for your wellness. And it’s fun.
I won’t worry about it.
Life is good. Worrying about losing 10 pounds is a sure way to ruin it. You’re taking the steps you need to take to lose the weight, to run the 5k, to lower your risk for diabetes/heart disease/cancer/etc, so don’t stress about it! Do what needs to be done, and don’t give yourself a deadline. Let it happen as it happens. Stay consistent and it’ll be sooner than you think.
What have you resolved to do in 2016?
