Summer Slump Knocking Your Health Goals Off Track?
By Donna Stark
We all know that summer slump feeling pretty well, don’t we? Our May resolutions of creating that bathing suit-ready body had us pumped up and excited at first, but now we are weeks deep in the throes of barbeques and vacation food and suddenly we find ourselves looking in the mirror wondering what in the heck just happened? The “new bathing suit, new me” pep talks we gave ourselves are long gone, and along with them, so are all of the health goals we made for the summer ahead of us.
It’s Not the Time to Despair
Don’t worry! It’s never too late to get back on track with the health goals you want to achieve. Sure, maybe you got sidetracked a little bit. Barbequed ribs, potato salad, and homemade pie have a way of doing that to the best of us. But the train of health hasn’t left yet and there is still plenty of time to get that beach body back. How, you ask? Read on.
- Start fresh - To create healthy habits all over again, you need to start with a fresh state of mind. Your thoughts and feelings greatly affect your actions and can make or break your new resolutions. So accept this “defeat” if you have to, but then move on and re-strategize with a positive outlook.
- Eat well - Just because you didn’t find the success you were looking for doesn’t mean you need to deprive yourself of what you love (still talking about the ribs and pie here). Maintaining a healthy lifestyle isn’t about deprivation. It’s about changing behaviors. So go ahead and continue to attend all of the backyard picnics, just be a little more mindful and intentional about what you are eating.
- Begin your mornings with breakfast - Was breakfast a priority for you before? If it was, that’s great! But if it wasn’t, I would encourage you to create a morning routine that includes eating a healthy breakfast. Doing so will keep you feeling full and satisfied throughout your day and that has been shown to significantly help maintain a healthy body weight.
- Keep the exercise going strong - Yes, it’s hot and probably a million degrees outside, but don’t let that discourage you from keeping your fitness routine moving forward. If you have to start over, start low and go slow. Make it manageable so it will be more likely that you will stick to it. There are plenty of ways to exercise indoors too! Walk around a mall, try indoor rock climbing, or just head to your local gym.
Keep Your Goals in Sight
Keep in mind what your ultimate goal is and don’t be too hard on yourself when you fall off the tracks. And remember, setting yourself up with a fresh state of mind is the major key to success. A summer body is an awesome goal, but the real reward is improved overall health and wellness.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Scottsdale, Ariz.