I spend a lot of my time from October through December indulging in treats I only have once or twice a year. That leaves me feeling sluggish and frumpy when the new year hits. I used to try to make resolutions, but discovered I never stuck with them. This time I decided to try obtainable goals instead of resolutions I would fail. I am not trying to lose a ton of weight, simply to begin eating healthier and exercise. If you are like me, you can always use pointers on how to accomplish these goals. I’ve found four tips I plan to use in the new year.
1. Start slow. If you, like me, have allowed yourself to get out of shape, committing to exercise two hours a day or run ten miles is setting yourself up for failure. Make an attainable goal, like walk one mile for a week, then increase to two. Plus, how many people do you know that can realistically set aside two hours a day for exercise?
2. Exercise daily. It’s easier to become a habit if you do something everyday. Don’ have time for a 30 minute workout? Break it down into chunks of ten minutes. Or do like I do, much to the annoyance of my children, and park far away from the store and walk.
3. Find exercise you like to do. Unless it’s fun you are probably not going to stick with it. I like to workout to music so using an exercise video with dance moves (as long as I don’t have to do it in front of people so they see how bad I am) motivates me to continue to work out. Some family members absolutely hate that and refuse to do the workout, preferring to ride the exercise bike or play tennis.
4. Indulge a little. I could say I am going to give up all soda and never have chocolate again, but that is setting myself up for failure. I am sure to feel guilty when I slip. Instead, I plan to have a small dessert once or twice a week and (hopefully) just cut back on my soda habit.
If you are looking for some foods to keep on hand while you are trying to get fit, head to Publix and stock up on their Weight Watcher approved foods, like Progresso Lite Soups and Green Giant Frozen Veggies, on sale through the 7th, buy one, get one, and Yoplait Yogurt.
What are your favorite tips for getting back and shape and eating healthy?
great tips! i love exercising and finding new routines to keep me motivated!
Great advice. I don’t drink much pop and have cut way back on refined sugar!
I think being able to indulge a little is very important. Sometimes having people follow very rigid diets doesn’t work because they become frustrated at all the limitations and give up.
Great tips! My New Year’s Resolution is to loose weight and this is the perfect post for tips to be successful yet still normal! Thanks!
Thanks for the tips. I have to like the exercise or I wont do it either.
I love Zumba so I have been doing Zumba on xbox
Great tips. I think we all need to remember to take it slow and not totally keep ourselves from everything we love. That is one big way to fail.
I so need to take your tips to heart – I hate exercising! I definitely have a hard time of indulging just a little – moderation is something I need to learn!
These are some great tips. I packed on a few pounds while on vacation and I do need to exercise. I will have to do it in chunks because of my work schedule. Thanks for sharing.
It is important to realize that from small starts and tiny things big things grow like acorns and oak trees.
I agree with you starting slow is best,i have been adding salads to one of my meals everyday and i have not made any kind of promise to give up chocolate lol,also i have cut out all fizzy drink so lets see how that goes.
Just what I needed! I’ve been looking for ways to get fit, especially for what I gained during the hholidays.
Great advice. I think finding an exercise you like is really key. Maybe several so you don’t get bored with just one. Making sure you do some strength training weekly is a good idea too.
Indulging is my weakness. I cut out a picture of Jennifer Aniston so that every time I think I’m about to give up, she reminds me that it’s possible!
Great tips! I just have to remember that you suggested indulging a little and not whenever the whim hits you 🙂
I have to always take it slow when I start exercising too so that I don’t burn myself out. Also to remember to drink lots of water!
Nice. Thanks for the tips. They will be super helpful.
Great list of tips! You listed my favorite which is to find fun things that I like to do and get to moving. Happy blogging and thanks for sharing.
I love how realistic these tips are. These work well for me. Thanks for sharing!
Great tips. Especially like the last one.
I am so happy to see that you added a tip about giving yourself a break some times. We all fall off and if we beat ourselves up about it, we will never get back. Great list!
Great tips, it is always better to start slowly. I did that last year and went from not being able to run to running a half marathon by the end of the year. I started making all the things we enjoy at the holidays year round – this keeps us from over indulging because it is no longer an annual treat.
My best tip is to include more healthful things that will push the unhealthy things out! (Instead of just limiting everything…then you’re sure to give up!)
I think you left out “Start” at all…that is my biggest issue.
trisha
Hope you have a terrific 2014!
I don’t do New Year’s Resolutions. But I did choose a word for me this year, Joyful.
Hope you achieve all your goals this year!
Moderation is the key – a bit of here and there and nothing too much hehehe 🙂
Great help in starting small. I have done just that and I’m already happy with how I’m feeling. Thanks.
Instead of giving up chocolate completely I buy a gourmet bar of the darkest chocolate I can find. It’s impossible to eat more than a little square at a time and if it starts to taste too bitter I know I’m eating too much sweet stuff!
these are all wonderful tips and things i should start doing again
I love your idea of starting slow – I always jump in feet first and do too much which leaves me in pain and unable to continue I definitely need to do that more in future. x
Useful tips! Although it’s hard to exercise daily. I tried it before but I was determined that time. I wish I had the motivation again.
I am really loving these tips, It will help me out, Thank You for posting & sharing
These are great tips and so much more realistic for busy people! Thanks for sharing!
You are so right. Slow and steady wins the race. Great advice.
FYI–they now have sugar free choc pudding and rice pudding and also fat free varieties in those small ind serve cups. AND whipped cream comes in a no fat variety as well–They all taste great amd a lot less guilt!
A lot of people start exercising at the beginning of the new year and then lose their pace. I don’t exercise every day, but I strive for 3 times a week. If I can’t make it to the gym, I have an at home workout including pushups, situps, and jumping jacks – it really makes me sweat!
Great tips and starting slow is a key to help all of us. I don’t ever start slow at anything though… When I gave up cane sugar, it was cold turkey and I haven’t had it in 6 years. Not knowingly anyway.
exercise is the bane of my existence. hate it. want to love it.
I agree, it’s best to start off slow. I am headed to the gym today to get my gym membership. I am going to start out slow and then begin going more and more.
Great post I started my 2014 fitness challenge in October so i could be halfway to my goal by mow and ready for the summer.
I started seeing a trainer and have been eating lots of fruits and veggies. Water was never a problem but I can always stand to drink more of it.
I am not a soda drinker but once in a while, I do drink to quench my thirst and cravings. I think that moderation is the key.
I am really proud of myself the way I have maintained my weight and have been eating healthy. I love shopping at Publix because they carry such a wide variety of products that I can’t always find at other groceries.
This is so hard for people to eat healthy. It’spossible with your great tips
These are great tips. For me; I’m also working on cutting back my soda habits! Before I got sick over the Christmas Holiday I had gotten myself down to just one can of soda every 3 days (from 3 16.9 oz bottles every day). I got sick and all motivation and resistance abilities went out the window. Now I’m back up to 1 bottle a day. I need to get this licked again and get that soda back in it’s place. My goal is to only have it on date nights with the husband.
I think doing fun exercise is so important in helping people reach their fitness goals. I have taken up pole dance and aerial yoga and even though people think those exercises are edgy I have never felt better and haven’t been this fit in a long time.
Your tips are sensible, and I like that. I never expect myself to never indulge in the things that I like, I just keep the expectation that I can do so in moderation and not on a daily basis. Exercising daily is a major goal with minor imperatives. Every day that I get some exercise, I feel good in my body, and that’s good for my soul. The encouragement is to exercise early, so that the good feeling infuses my day! Infusing my whole diet with health building foods that I love while purging it of health murdering foods that are convenient and easy also help me meet major health goals.
I spent years over weight because I didn’t like working out. Until I found zumba. It’s the only thing that keeps me wanting to go back.
I only like a few types of exercises but the ones I like I have been trying to get more of.
I am the type of person that I have to cut all ties or I wont stop. So, I cannot have gluten, dairy or junk food really… I’ve been doing great so far since the 1st! I’ve made it 5 whole days! I do know that if I dont have fruit or veggies in the house I will grab chips or a snack that I certainly don’t need.
I plan on making small changes too! I will begin by eating more healthier meals. I hope to also spend less on takeout this year!
Starting slow is always key with me too. When I try to do too much, I get sooooooo sore which shuts me down completely. I agree that if you add in your treats within moderation it’s way more realistic. Good luck!