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Written by Stephanie Young
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Saturday, 07 January 2006 |
Since 153 BC we have been creating New Year’s Resolutions, and since that time we have been breaking them. I hope that in the past week you are still as motivated about your resolution as you were when making the pledge to improve your life. The number one New Year’s Resolution is to loose weight followed by exercising more and eating better. If you are like most Americans one of your resolutions had to do with improving your appearance.
Loosing weight and exercising more may seem like fleeting ambitions but are some of the most important changes you could make. Over 55% American adults are considered overweight and the outlook for our children is not looking much better. Creating a healthier lifestyle by eating better and exercising more allows you to reduce your risk of cancer, increase your longevity, achieve or maintain a healthy weight, enhance your mood and lower your blood pressure.
There are five easy ways you can make your most recent plight to achieve a healthier lifestyle a success:
1. Create a plan. As with any good plan, you need clearly defined steps leading to your ultimate goal. Coming up with short term and long term goals can assist you in the development of your lifestyle strategy. You should also devise a coping tactics for times you take a detour on the road to a better you. For example, if you find yourself mindlessly munching in front of the television create a plan of action to distract yourself from this habit. If you find yourself chowing down tell yourself you will only eat food off a plate or in the kitchen.
2. Do it immediately. It is tempting to wait until Monday or allow yourself one more splurge before you go on your “diet.” We tend to view dieting as something temporary that will help shed those extra pounds quickly and then we will go back to the normal routine. This is not true when you are creating a healthier lifestyle. Lifestyle changes are no temporary matter, they are habits we intend to keep forever. Keep in mind when you create your plan that you are making changes that are evermore, not just at the present. Create your plan and start today!
3. Write down your resolutions and plan. Putting your resolutions in writing will remind you how you plan to achieve each objective. You may also want to jot down the reasons why you are trying to create changes. For example, if you are trying to loose weight create a list of motivating factors such as “I want to live to see my children have children,” “I want to look good no matter what I wear,” “I want to decrease the amount of blood pressure medication I am taking.” You may find it helpful to share these commitments with a loved one and post them in an area you will see regularly.
4. Think year round, not just New Years. We set our resolutions in one day but it takes many days to realize these aspirations. Keep in mind that nothing big is accomplished in one day, or one month for that matter!
5. Finally, be flexible! This may be the most important tip of all. Healthy eating does not mean being perfect all the time, it means mindful eating most
of the time. There are allowances for treats as long as these high calorie foods are eaten in moderation.
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