Hiya friends! TGIF!! I was contacted recently by Brittany who was interested in sharing a guest post about maintaining a healthy lifestyle. She did a really great post on re-evaluating our New Years goals and getting back/staying on track.
Check it out!!!
It’s already March! Can you believe it? The snow is melting, the Spring is just around the corner, and soon enough shorts, skirts and bikinis will be in season. The real question is- how are your New Year’s Resolutions going? You know, all those diet and fitness resolutions you promised to keep a little while back? Well whether you tried your best and things fell apart, or you gave up on giving up carbs January 2nd, hope isn’t lost. Only about 8% of Americans that make resolutions actually follow through and complete their initial goals. Sadly, by this time in the year, many of us have probably forgotten what we vowed to accomplish. But with swimsuit season staring us in the face, it may be time to grab that list of resolutions that you shoved into a desk drawer.
Figure out why it failed. I hate to use the “F” word, but it’s important to determine why your resolutions didn’t work out in the first place. People tend to set very lofty goals for themselves and are extremely disappointed when they fail to meet their expectations. Sit down and try to figure out whether your goals are reasonable. That isn’t to say that you’ll never achieve your ultimate fitness or weight loss goals, but you may need to rethink your means of attaining them, as well as the amount of time it takes.
Forget about the short term. This step is key. A huge reason people have issues following through with diet and fitness changes, is that they expect instantaneous results. Unfortunately, this leads many to make poor dieting choices for the sake of slimming down. Any fast or program that promises drastic results, with little to no exercise is unhealthy and unrealistic. These fads have pretty much skewed success rates, often leading to yo-yo dieting, which usually does more harm than good. Taking your body on and off starvation mode actually causes you to gain more weight. Your body begins to break down muscle for energy, but once you resume a regular diet, there is less muscle mass to burn calories and your body stores it as fat. This is a classic example of how short term solutions can lead to more severe health problems in the long run.
Rethink the word “diet”. I’ve already thrown this word around quite a bit, but I mean it in the most basic definition of the word – “the kinds of food a person habitually eats.” I’m not talking about talking about trendy, fad “diets” and cleanses. I’m talking about the types of foods we eat on the day to day. Dieting should not be a quick fix; it’s a way of living! You should make consistently healthy choices that are beneficial to your overall wellbeing.
Reevaluate Your Options: Now that we’ve established that crash dieting and short term solutions rarely work, let’s brainstorm. If you’re dedicated to improving your health, then now is a good time to look at your eating habits and determine where you need to make permanent changes. Are you eating enough veggies? How lean is the protein you eat? Think about making substitutions rather than completely cutting things out. Meal planning is also an excellent way to that you’re maintaining a balanced diet. Not every meal needs to be elaborate; there are numerous options for quick healthy meals and snacks. Look for products with substantial fiber and protein to diminish hunger throughout the day.
Use the Buddy System! As I struggled to get on track with a fitness and diet routine, I’ve come to find that it’s exponentially easier when you do it with someone else. When you are being held accountable by a fitness partner or group, people tend to be more committed. Sometimes this can be even more rewarding! Dieting and exercise can feel like much less of a chore when you’re cooking meals with your husband or going for jogs with a close friend.
But of all the tips and tricks I can give, the most important one is to remain positive. The greatest rewards take time and effort. So remember, even if the start seems slow and arduous, you can and will reach your goals.
Author Bio: Brittany writes about healthy living and fitness on behalf of Healthy Choice. For more information about low calorie meals and healthy desserts visit www.healthychoice.com. Remember- don’t diet, live healthy!
