New Year New You
10-Jan-2012 by James Read Both
New Year New YouIf you are anything like the other 90% of the nation then it’s a good bet you made your New Year’s Resolution to get in shape this year and to begin work on a fitter, healthier and happier you! Unfortunately whilst this is the world’s top New Year’s Resolution, the failure rate of achieving this is very high. This is simply due to people not setting realistic goals or expectations and either burning out or simply having no set plan. The best way to start on the path of health and fitness is to set ten guide lines and use these to begin your path to health and inevitable happiness, We here at The Supplement Den have decided to help by coming up with the top ten tips we believe can help you reach your goals this year in health and fitness:
1.Commit to daily exercise or activity - There’s a difference between an exercise and a full on workout, and it’s much easier to make exercise a habit than it is to force oneself through a gruelling workout session. If you alternate your intensive workout days with lighter physical activities such as walking, playing with the dog, or running errands on foot, you’ll become more active on a daily basis. Pick at least 2-3 activities you enjoy and make it a part of your weekly schedule.
2. Skip the latest fad diet - Fad diets come and go each season, and almost every single one can sabotage your health. Make a commitment to ignore these completely, and focus on healthy eating as a lifestyle instead.
3. Create a journal for your food and training - Many people turn to eating when they’re stressed out or can’t cope with a difficult situation and have no set plan or food diary to stick to. Turn to journaling as a constructive way to manage the situation; you’re much more likely to stick with your healthy eating plan when you have a journal. You can keep track of your training and your activity levels but also keep note of any personal feelings or anything going on in your life at the time and how it affected your training or diet. You will be amazed how much positives come out of having a simple training/eating journal.
4. Don’t deprive yourself - Cravings are a message from your body that you’re lacking nutrition. Instead of forcing yourself through a diet, enjoy a small portion of whatever you’re craving and stop overeating and obsessing about it. Make sure you enjoy a cheat day each week in which you can enjoy some of your favourite foods and also don’t forbid yourself from socialising or enjoying yourself, this will only lead to ending your new healthy lifestyle and resorting back to your prior state.
5. Exercise portion control - Portion sizes continuously get bigger at restaurants and cafes, but you can take charge of your eating by deciding how much is the right amount is for you, especially at home. Read up on nutrition labels and guidelines to get an idea of what truly is the right serving size. Eat smaller meals more frequently, this will ensure you don’t get hungry but also speed up your metabolism.
6. Encourage your friends or family to join your new healthy lifestyle - Making positive changes is much easier when you can enjoy the journey with a friend or loved one. Even one or two friends can provide motivation and help you through the toughest days. Make a resolution to include at least one other person as you make these positive lifestyle changes.
7. Give your body a rest when required - You don’t have to work out at the gym to get a great workout; those who do usually get tired of it within a few weeks and give up entirely. Pick some physical activities that you truly enjoy instead such as dancing, jump roping, water skiing or anything that gets your heart pumping for at least 30 minutes qualifies as a workout. It is important to give your body time to rest and recover, so daily gruelling workouts at the gym aren’t the best way to go. They are great for a professional athlete going for Olympic gold but in reality will only lead to getting run down and sick.
8. Increase calcium intake - Men and Women are at risk of osteoporosis and bone loss, especially when not eating healthy. Making sure you get enough calcium in your diet is a top priority, and you can improve bone density by doing resistance training as well. Studies have also proved that calcium assists with fat loss which is obviously a great bonus.
9. Get regular check-ups with your doctor - Regular check-ups with the doctor help you stay on top of your health are an excellent idea; it’s essential to keep track of your health and well-being and minimize problems as they arise. Prevention is much better than the cure!
10. Eat least two pieces of fresh fruit/vegetables each day - While health experts recommend at least 3-5 servings each day, you can start with at least two. Getting yourself into the fresh food habit can take time, so don’t feel like you have to jump into extra servings right away. Just transition yourself into eating more whole foods, and you’ll naturally want to eat them more often! Fruit and Vegetables are high in nutrients and fibre, Fibre not only helps you feel fuller but it also assists fat burning and building that healthier, fitter and happier NEW YOU!
