New Year's Resolutions
Every year at around this time we're bombarded with messages and pressure to devise and implement resolutions. Goals are great but New Year can be a challenging time to launch New You. The post-Christmas period often doesn't lend itself well to pursuing health and fitness goals. Many people are out of routine for most of the month while they enjoy trips, houseguests and school holiday activities. It’s a relaxed social time to recover from the pressure of Christmas and enjoy the sunshine. Lots of relaxed socializing revolves around food and then the month ends with Anniversary Weekend, this year followed by the split Waitangi week. It’s no surprise that by February many people have entirely abandoned the goals they set only a month ago.
Something the post-Christmas period does lend itself well to is reflection. Leisure time can be a good opportunity to consider on your work and family commitments for the year and how your health and fitness might realistically fit around them. It's a good time to chat to friends and family about their goals and how you might support each other. As you consider your approach, beware of the fad diets that proliferate at this time of year. Any regime promising fast dramatic solutions to a large problem is probably too good to be true. It certainly is possible to lose 10kgs in 10 weeks if you are prepared to live miserably enough but it’s hard to keep it off. If you drop weight quickly and pile it back on just as quickly it’s more than just demoralizing and embarrassing. It’s damaging for your health and catastrophic for your metabolic rate.
I recommend you set some modest, gentle resolutions for January with a view to launching a more serious assault on your health in February. Check out my article on the All Or Nothing Mentality for some ideas on manageable goals. The January period might be a good time to focus on getting your body used to 3 litres of water a day. Or it could be the perfect time of year to finally have a play about with MyFitnessPal, even if you only want to input your food a couple of days a week.
The safest most effective way to meet your weight loss goals through the healthy habits of regular exercise and balanced eating. Set yourself up for success by making a sensible start in January, laying the groundwork for a February launch. Then get on with enjoying a restful, rejuvenating summer break.
Something the post-Christmas period does lend itself well to is reflection. Leisure time can be a good opportunity to consider on your work and family commitments for the year and how your health and fitness might realistically fit around them. It's a good time to chat to friends and family about their goals and how you might support each other. As you consider your approach, beware of the fad diets that proliferate at this time of year. Any regime promising fast dramatic solutions to a large problem is probably too good to be true. It certainly is possible to lose 10kgs in 10 weeks if you are prepared to live miserably enough but it’s hard to keep it off. If you drop weight quickly and pile it back on just as quickly it’s more than just demoralizing and embarrassing. It’s damaging for your health and catastrophic for your metabolic rate.
I recommend you set some modest, gentle resolutions for January with a view to launching a more serious assault on your health in February. Check out my article on the All Or Nothing Mentality for some ideas on manageable goals. The January period might be a good time to focus on getting your body used to 3 litres of water a day. Or it could be the perfect time of year to finally have a play about with MyFitnessPal, even if you only want to input your food a couple of days a week.
The safest most effective way to meet your weight loss goals through the healthy habits of regular exercise and balanced eating. Set yourself up for success by making a sensible start in January, laying the groundwork for a February launch. Then get on with enjoying a restful, rejuvenating summer break.