Jump Start Your New Year's Resolutions
By Rachel Carver
It's a new year. It's a new chance to form long-lasting healthy habits. But starting these resolutions is usually easier than keeping them going past January.
Read on for some strategies to implement for long-term success.
Prioritize Overall Nutrition
Many diets make certain foods off-limits. This can lead to feelings of deprivation and overeating.
Instead, focus on your nutrition as a whole. Incorporate whole foods into your diet. Try to increase your fiber and protein consumption. Both keep you feeling full longer and provide great health benefits.
Find New Recipes
The internet is a treasure trove of new recipes. Search for a new meal to cook based on your health goals. For example, search for recipes that support immune health and fight inflammation. You will find several recipes high in cruciferous vegetables.
Search for the right foods to consume before or after a workout. Use these recipes to build your grocery list. And, if you make something you do not like, cross it off your go-to list.
Create a Rotating Menu
All adults have to answer the same question every night: What's for dinner? After a long day, having to make this decision might feel overwhelming. This leads many of us to order takeout.
Pick a day each week to plan your family's dinners. You can add some of the new recipes you found into the mix. If you know you're going to need to order out one or two nights, write this into your plan. You can prepare some ingredients in advance, such as meat. You can use this same approach for your breakfasts and lunches. Rotate meals weekly to keep everyone from getting bored.
Track Your Steps
Studies suggest 10,000 steps per day can help combat a life of too much sitting. Tracking your steps can increase your daily movement. You might think about taking the stairs instead of the elevator. Take a short walk over your lunch. Pace your office during phone calls.
Many phone apps can count your steps. Smartwatches can easily connect to your phone to easily track your movements.
Find a Fun Workout
Your doctor tells you to exercise. You know regular movement is important. But you have no desire to join a gym or run a 5K. You can finish a quality workout in 30 minutes or less.
The key is to find a physical activity you will stick with. Find a fitness center with a pool you can use. Swimming can be fun and give you a good workout. Start a walking program. Or focus on quick, effective exercise throughout the day. Do 10 squats after a meeting. Have a dance party with your kids twice a week in your living room. Being intentional about any movement will go a long way.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Jacksonville, Fla.