Are you among the estimated forty percent of Americans who make weight loss and fitness their New Year’s resolution? If so, have you already considered joining the nearly ninety percent who will abandon that goal before it is reached? Fitness, weight loss and overall good health do not have to be complicated chores. They can even be fun if approached with the right attitude.
While weight loss is often the motivation behind beginning a diet and exercise program, it can be more permanent as a byproduct of a different goal, one of becoming healthy. Developing a healthy body requires exercise, positive nutritional choices, ample rest and a positive outlook, all of which can contribute to weight loss and a reduced stress level.
In order to begin the journey to a healthier you, schedule a visit with your doctor, a dietician or a fitness expert to assess your individual needs and to develop a plan of action. Setting goals in this way will add a level of accountability as well as insure that you are being realistic about what you will be able to achieve in a given amount of time.
Although everyone’s goals should be unique to his or her situation, here are some small steps anyone can gradually incorporate to work toward a healthier lifestyle.
• Get plenty of sleep. This long-standing advice is a major component of good health. Allowing for optimum sleep each night and ample rest during the day reduces stress and helps the body to restore itself properly.
• Abandon bad habits. Habits such as smoking, consuming alcohol or overindulging in caffeine are not only expensive; they are also to blame for poor sleeping habits, altered judgment and several health problems.
• Keep everything in moderation. Just as extreme diets deliver only temporary results and extreme exercise can push a body past its peak and cause injury, overly ambitious changes in lifestyle can also be counterproductive. A gradual, moderate approach has been shown to be most effective.
• Don’t drink calories. While it isn’t necessarily a bad thing to have one glass of sweet tea or a can of Coke, reducing the amounts of calories consumed as beverages can lead to dramatic weight loss over time. Consider water and, for flavor, add a bit of juice squeezed from a lemon or other citrus fruit.
• Keep moving. Exercise is one of the most important aspects of any fitness plan. Although it is ideal to incorporate at least thirty minutes of strength training and/or aerobic exercise every day, it is not always practical. Start by simply moving more throughout each day. Pay attention to your normal habits and think of ways to add movement. This will keep your metabolism working steadily and boost your overall energy level.
• Drop the excuses. If fitness and health are truly your goals this year, don’t let your words hold you back. Stay positive and know that fitness is a gift only you can give to your body.
