Just three weeks to go until January and when we all start to make resolutions and pray we stick to them. I made one in January of this year and this time I have stuck to it. I wanted to loose weight and get toned. I think I've done a good job this year, I look better than I have in years, I've finally got back into jeans that I've kept for years. I've also eaten a lot healthier this year and really watched what I eat. Obviously I have treated myself, life would be boring if I didn't, but everything is OK in moderation right ?? A lot of people really struggle to stay healthy or to loose weight, so it really is an ongoing thing. You can't or shouldn't try the quick solutions, as these generally do not work in the long term. So in January, or even now, start thinking about what you want as your resolution, and lets all really try hard to stick to it.
I came across an article that I wanted to share with you to see what you think too.
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Why health checks should be Number One on your New Year
fitness resolutions list
The resolution to improve health and fitness is a common
one, especially if you have really enjoyed Christmas in terms of eating and
drinking to excess, and have gained some weight. Those of us who are already
regular gym goers notice that we can’t get onto fitness equipment without
queuing in January, because of all the enthusiastic New Year joiners who are
going to stick to their resolution this time. However, by the end of the month,
they have mostly fallen by the wayside, and the gym crowd is mostly back to the
usual regulars.
The best thing you can do as a new starter is to copy those
regulars and pick up their habits; it’s easier to succeed if you set yourself
small goals that are easy to achieve, such as ‘I will go to the gym three times
this week’ and ‘I will only drink at the weekend this week’. Relying on
will-power without making a plan isn’t enough, especially if you have an end
goal in mind that will take months to achieve, such as losing a set amount of
weight, or achieving a specific level of fitness.
An end goal needs to have a set of sub-goals to be
achievable; for example, if your end goal is ‘I will feel confident in a bikini
this summer’, your sub-goals should probably be:
·
I will exercise for 30 minutes every day, either
by walking or going to the gym
·
I will cut out 100 unnecessary calories from my
diet every day (easy swaps are a skinny latte for a full-fat option, or opting
for a sugar-free syrup if those are your weakness!)
Both of those things are easily achievable without you even
noticing, and that is the key to making resolutions you can keep. Putting a
picture of a supermodel or bodybuilder on the fridge is just going to make you
feel ashamed even when you’re reaching inside for a healthy snack or nutritious
meal, so think hard about what your goals are, and what you want to achieve.
Many of us also set ourselves up to fail by making a long
list of resolutions and failing to stick to any of them, simply because the
weight of self-expectation is completely overwhelming. Focus your energies on
sticking to your main goal, and leave the rest of the self-improvement for
later!
If you are very out of shape, or very overweight, it’s
essential that you seek medical advice and assurance before you begin any kind
of exercise routine. That’s why it’s important to make your plans now, so that
you can hit the ground running in January. Going for a full MOT can give you
great peace of mind about your heath, so why not visit a private hospital in Chelsea
to speak to a specialist about any concerns before you begin?
Finally, don’t just make resolutions in January; there’s no
time like the present for improving your health and fitness!
