No matter what your fitness New Year’s resolution is, you’ll find it’s easier if you start immediately and not wait until the stroke of midnight to begin. Many of my Richmond Hill, GA clients that started in January as part of their fitness resolution, say they wish they would have begun the goal as soon as they thought of it and saved the extra pounds they gained over the holidays. Not only will the program help you choose food more wisely, it can boost your energy, too. That’s especially important during the busy holidays.
Identify your fitness goal first.
If weight loss is one of your goals, there’s no doubt about it, it will be easier to start today! You don’t have to diet to lose weight, just make smarter choices when it comes to food. You’ll find you won’t feel deprived over the holidays when some of the changes are as simple as eating brown rice instead of white rice or using Greek yogurt for your baked potato, rather than sour cream. There are tricks and tips you can use to avoid all those extra calories, like using a smaller plate so it looks like you’re eating more, eating slowly and chewing each bite longer, filling up on salad and low calorie foods first and even going for a walk after lunch to avoid grazing. You could be starting the coming year weighing even less.
More exercise is an important part of fitness.
Even if you don’t have time to start a formal program, don’t let that stop you from increasing your time exercising. There are a number of quick workouts that take a few minutes you can do throughout the day. In order to stay healthy, moving vigorously every 55 minutes is important. You can run up and down stairs, march or run in place or do one of the many super short 4 to 7 minute workouts you find on the internet. It will get you ready when you join the gym when the new year starts.
Treat your family to a healthy holiday meal.
You’ll want to get them used to eating healthy and you can do it before they know you’ve started your program. Find healthy recipes to put on the holiday table that taste good. You’ll probably find several they absolutely love, so you’ll have some ammo when you’re “officially” starting your fitness regimen. You’ll probably find you also love these healthy foods, too.
- Mindful eating slows you down at the table and lets your brain and hormones catch up with your meals to let you know you’re full before you’ve eaten too much. Chewing slowly and savoring the flavors also adds to the meal.
- Start getting rid of the processed foods in the house. You don’t have to throw them all away, just don’t restock them. You’ll be ready to start the new year with a healthy, clean living cupboard and refrigerator.
- One simple trick for good health and weight loss is to drink more water. It curbs your appetite and lowers your caloric intake. It can also be an energy booster.
- Don’t skimp on sleep. Lack of sleep can cause you to gain weight, plus is bad for your health.