The following article will highlight some important areas to consider when you are wanting to stay on track and acheive your health goal. It's important to discuss any changes to your exercise regime with your health professional.
If your New Year’s Day was anything like mine, you woke up and felt as though a year’s worth of weight had been lifted off your shoulders. You felt as though anything was possible, and you wanted to get up and get started on your New Year’s goals right away - that would have been perhaps me when I was a little wiser...but when I was in early 20's, I probably woke up with a little headache
But lets focus on the first part.
So, why can’t every day be like waking up refreshed and charged? How can we make that New Year’s feeling last all year? How do we go about not losing that loving feeling for our New Year’s goals?
Just Focus on TodayI think the reason the first day of a new year seems like a fresh start is that in our minds, it’s day one of 366 (it’s leap year!). As the days of the year pile on, the work stresses build, the kids have more on than ever before so all these things, they seem to accumulate in our minds, and any unhealthy choices we’ve made are highlighted in the brain as a failure of the whole year.
We need to nip this thinking in the bud. Throw it out. Get rid of it. Just stop. Easier said that done right?
To help focus your mind on each day as its own new fresh start, make daily resolutions, just small steps instead of larger weekly, monthly, or yearly goals. Start your resolutions each morning with the phrase, “Just for today.”
Skipping dessert “just for today” is a lot easier on the mind than saying you’ll never have it again. And once you do it once, you’ll feel empowered to make that same resolution tomorrow. And the next day, and the next.If you are finding your new regime is giving your body some low energy levels, then this is normal. Follow these principles on How To Get More Energy and you might find your energy lifts up and stabilises leaving you more focussed on achieving you goals
Put Your Goals Front and CenterIf you’re striving to eat better and get more exercise this year, you’re probably also going to have to get on that scale at least once a week. But if the scale is hidden in the back of your closet, that’s probably not going to happen. And if you don’t weigh yourself regularly, your goals are going to start to slip around the time your significant other gives you a heart-shaped box of chocolates.
Try doing what I did: put that ugly, horrible, no-good scale somewhere you’ll see it everyday, preferably in front of a full-length mirror. It will remind you of your goals, and exposure therapy says that over time, it will make stepping on that scale a little less intimidating.
Keep Track and Take your VitaminsChances are, you got at least one hokey calendar for the holidays. I know I did. Put that calendar to good use by tracking your workouts, your eating habits, USANA Vitaminsintake, your weight, or whatever healthy goals you have for the year.
If you can see your progress as the year goes by, you’ll be less likely to give up when the going gets tough. If you miss a day or two, it’s not the end of the world. Just make sure to keep pushing yourself every day to be active and eat healthy.
The best way to keep that New Year’s feeling all year long is to not let a whole year’s worth of days scare you. Take your goals one day at a time, and make small goals and small successes lead to greater overall health and fitness.
