It is that time of the year, our bank accounts are empty, but our waistlines are fuller than we would like. After the holidays we start thinking about a new year, and a new change for us. The New Years Resolution is a longtime tradition. We talk about what we want to change, we think about it, maybe even obsessively, but do we actually make that lasting change we long for?
I did a bit of research and found the top 10 New Years Resolutions:
Top 10 Most CommonNew Year’s Resolutions:
1 Lose Weight and Get in Better Physical Shape
2 Stick to a Budget
3 Debt Reduction
4 Enjoy More Quality Time with Family & Friends
5 Find My Soul Mate
6 Quit Smoking
7 Find a Better Job
8 Learn Something New
9 Volunteer and Help Others
10 Get Organized
These all sound great to me, who wouldn't want to have a fit healthy body, and great job, great love life, happy family, plenty of money, and all the energy and time to spend that money doing things with that spouse and family that you have always wanted to do. It sounds like the life of a celebrity or a multi-millionaire. But, we can all have a piece of the joy if we start now, by making some lasting changes to our lifestyle.
It all starts with just moving more. Move more you say...maybe you've seen the "Move It" TV commericals, or you've heard Nike say "Just do it". It sounds easy, after all weren't our bodies make for moving? It is much harder in practice sometimes.
In order for any resolution to really stick, it has to become a habit. Habit are created when we do something over and over again, until it becomes second nature. Starting any diet or exercise program is difficult at first, but once you start experiencing how great you feel, you want that feeling more in more. Kinda like a drug, I guess.
When most people decide to "move more" or start an exercise program they make the mistake of going all out right away. They join a gym, push their bodies too hard the first time and end up miserably sore for three days. Sound familiar? The other error they make is not pushing themselve hard enough. They are afraid of getting hurt, or they simply don't know what exercises will benefit them most. The key is to challenge your body gradually and consistenly over time.
I hear it all the time..."Two years ago I joined a gym and I lost 40 pounds, but I stopped going and I have gained it all back plus more." When I ask why they stopped going, it is almost always a simple answer like, "I got busy with work", or "I started to get lazy". We all get busy with work or our kids, or just life. We all have our lazy days, or weeks, but is that really an excuse? I tell all of my personal training clients, to be as consistent as possible with diet and exercise, "most of the time". No one is perfect. We all fall back into old habits sometimes, we have a bad day and we come home and devour an entire frozen pizza, or a quart of cookie dough ice cream. Those that are successful with weight loss, get right back to the gym or the diet and don't allow themselves to be discouraged. It's a marathon, not a sprint!
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