3 Tips to Keeping Your New Year's Resolutions
By Stephen R. Farris
A new year, a new me!
You've probably heard that expression before, and it's usually one of the most common New Year's resolutions made on January 1st.
Unfortunately, by the time February rolls around, the new year, new me attitude slowly begins to disappear and our goal(s) -- whether it was to get in shape, lose weight, or improve our mental health -- start to crash down around us.
It's nobody's fault, really. It happens to the best of us with good intentions for making change. Some choose resolutions that are set up for failure. They're simply unrealistic. But it doesn't have to be that way.
Think about what goals you'd like to achieve in the upcoming new year and make a more realistic plan to follow. Basically, you're planning ahead, except taking the "baby steps" approach to achieve them. Here's a few simple resolutions you could try that are achievable, and more likely to keep you on your path to a healthier you.
Vow to Eat More Whole Foods
With the holidays behind us that were filled with all of those scrumptious desserts, the time to focus on losing weight and getting strong is ahead. So instead of continuing the trend of eating foods high in carbs, sugars, and preservatives, vow to eat more whole foods instead. This means including more raw fruits and vegetables, leaner cuts of meat, nuts, and seeds, that are high in nutrients content.
Quit Sitting and Move
As a society, we've become sitters. So many of our jobs require long hours of sitting at a desk, driving, or lounging at home watching movies. According to research, sitting for long periods of time is now considered one of the new health hazards the majority of the world suffers from. Vow to move more. It's easy, really. If your job requires you to sit for long periods, then at least once an hour or every couple of hours, get up and take a 15-minute walk. That's usually the length of an average break.
Cut Out Those Sugary Drinks
Consuming too many drinks that contain sugar can lead to an array of health problems, such as obesity, heart disease, fatty liver, dental problems, and/or insulin resistance. Instead, vow to drink more water, or other healthy drinks. Most people try to start this resolution by doing so all at once. Usually, the result doesn't last long. Try doing so gradually instead. Remember those baby steps we talked about earlier. Yes, try that method and good luck to you in achieving your New Year's resolutions for this year!
To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Greeley, Colo.