Being healthy is not about dieting, it is about lifestyle changes. Small changes in what you consume, how you exercise and how you manage stress can make all the difference in your health and physique.
Get a head start on your New Years resolution and set goals before the food-filled holiday season begins. Starting now will help you learn control and help you keep off the pounds during the winter months.
Follow these tips to get on track and start the journey to a healthy and happy you.
Find the problem: You might say, “My resolution is to lose weight,” but it is important to find out what is preventing you from losing weight now. If the problem is over-eating say, “My resolution is to get a handle on portion control.” If you are concerned with the foods you are eating, ask yourself whether your diet is filled with saturated fats, sugars and sodium. Lastly, ask, “Am I getting enough exercise?” Factoring the recommended 30-minutes of exercise into your daily routine could be all it takes. Most likely, you are dealing with a combination of these problems, so write them all down and be specific.
Set a goal: Diets don’t work–we are talking about lifestyle changes here. Therefore, set a short-term goal, a long-term goal and something in between. When it comes to short-term goals, focus on something easy and small. A short-term goal might be to cut sugary drinks and salty snacks out of your diet. Losing weight should not be something you focus on for the foreseeable future–it is something that happens months from now. Be modest and say, “I want to lose 5 pounds 2 months from now, and 10 pounds 4 months from now.” The faster you lose, the more likely you are to gain in back; If you focus on changing your bad habits, the weight will come off naturally. Finally, for long-term goals tell yourself, “This time next year, I will be able to (insert something physically challenging, something that seems impossible now.” Write these goals down and make them real. Put them somewhere you will see them daily, and mark your calendar will important goal dates.
Clean house: When you are trying to turn over a new leaf, remove all evil temptations from your life. If you are overhauling your diet, give the cookies away, donate sodium-filled soups to the food pantry and bring the bag of chips to a party. Do a sweep of your house, apartment or dorm room and clean from top to bottom. This will help you feel like you are starting fresh.
Know your foods and be educated: Understand necessary daily values and ask yourself if your diet is up to par. The numbers and measurements below are based on an average adult consuming 2,000 calories per day. Know what foods provide what values and manipulate your diet so that you feel full and energized throughout the day.