Starting the Year Off Right
How often do we recycle the same old fitness New Year’s Resolutions? You know what I am talking about, weight loss and fitness goals! The New Year’s resolutions are broken and forgotten by the end of January and exchanged with old habits and muscle memory. Instead of putting that responsibility on an entire year, let us break down our new year resolution goals into monthly check-ins. Start the year off right with these three simple and attainable health and fitness goal tips.
Meals
What we eat has a significant impact on our health and fitness goals. We can work out seven days a week for 2 hours a day, but you will not see the desired results if still eating unhealthily. You cannot outwork a bad diet. So how do we change our relationship with food and find out what works for us?
Let’s start with some foodie education. We may know what food is healthy for us, but without a plan to consume them, we will fall back on those old snacking habits that led us to set these dieting and exercise goals. One tip is to understand what kinds of foods you like and build your meals around those foods. And when I say foods you like, I mean meats, fruits, vegetables, and healthy carbs; not processed foods, fast foods, fried foods, or sugary foods. Also, do not forget to try something new. You would be surprised what foods you did not like as a kid that taste delicious now. I would not say I wanted anything green when I was younger, but I will destroy some asparagus, broccoli, green beans, and Brussel sprouts nowadays. The same goes for drinking water. Maybe you do not like water, so drinking a half gallon a day seems impossible. Try a water bottle in the morning and one in the evening to get started. Increase your water intake, and eventually, you will be up to at least eight glasses a day.
Meal prepping is one of the easiest ways to kick start and maintain this new healthy relationship with food. Ensuring you have a plan and menu is the first step for success. Check out my post about Meal Prep 101 below.
www.itsabusylife.com/meal-prepping-101
Working Out
Instead of telling yourself, you need to work out for a certain number of minutes for a certain number of days a week, try telling yourself to get moving every day intentionally. We put so much pressure on ourselves already; having unrealistic expectations of working out only adds unnecessary stress. Just like meal planning and prepping, knowing your workouts for the week helps you stay on track with your goals. Maybe you cannot complete a 30-minute workout session yet. Try taking a 15-minute walk to start. Whether you are walking, taking a class, or doing a kickboxing video, a movement that gets your heart rate up will help. So, grab a pen and start writing.
Celebrate
Now the fun part. We often want to celebrate after we drop the 20 pounds or lose the 10 inches. How about we celebrate our victories throughout our journey. With that being said, we are NOT dogs, so we do not have to reward ourselves with food. Suppose you went an entire week without drinking soda, awesome. Celebrate! If you have lost 2 pounds after 2 weeks, great. Celebrate. What about if you decided to skip the usual mimosas during a lunch date with a friend because you have made a new lifestyle change? Celebrate. When I say celebrate, think of something to treat yourself that does not involve food. It could be purchasing an inexpensive new workout top, getting a manicure, reading, journaling, or going to the movies.
Now is the time to take control and make this year different than the other years. Start where you are, plan, execute, expect a few hiccups along the way, adjust fire, and keep pushing towards your goals. You’ve got this!
