Another New Year, another month or so of sticking to those weight loss and fitness resolutions before your gym membership becomes an automatic payment that you just keep forgetting to cancel. These days, it seems like New Year’s resolutions are created with the intention of being broken, that’s why people find it so hard to actually make a change when January 1st rolls around. We look at the new year as a chance to drastically change, but change never comes that quickly and it certainly doesn’t come easily. If you’re really serious about creating a healthier lifestyle for yourself and getting into better shape, maybe it’s time to rethink the resolutions you’ve made. Take small steps on your journey to weight loss. You’ll slowly teach yourself to be healthier and happier and fitness results will follow!
Here are some tips and tricks that are simple and painless and can help make 2016 a healthier year for anyone.
1). Drink Water. We’ve all heard this one a million times, but there’s some serious truth to it. Your body consists of nearly 60% water and needs H20 to carry out important processes. Not only can drinking enough water help you curve hunger and cut down on calories, it also helps energize muscles and keeps your skin looking healthier. So this year, try to stay away from sugary beverages like sodas, sports drinks, frappuccinos, etc. and reach for a glass of water instead. Your body will thank you for it.
2). Eat Less Refined Sugar. Eating copious amounts of added sugar has some major effects on health. The problem is, most of us don’t even realize how many “healthy” foods are still jam packed with added sugar. Nutrition bars, instant oatmeals, salad dressings, nut butters, smoothies, these are all great examples. So be wary. You don’t need to be constantly calculating your sugar intake, just try to reach for natural sugars like fruits instead of the refined junk. Cutting back on sugar can help with weight loss, lower blood pressure and cholesterol, and clear up your skin too!
3). Sleep. Get more sleep! Sure this isn’t always easy these days because we all tend to over load our schedules, but step back, take a breather and go to bed early for once. If you aren’t getting at least seven hours of sleep a night, your body isn’t fully recovering each day. This makes it much harder to see weight loss results when you are working out and even hinders full brain function. So next time you’re deciding whether or not to watch that next TV episode on Netflix, say no and hit the hay!
4). Get Moving. This is an obvious one if your New Year’s resolution involves weight loss, but it’s important to remember that working out doesn’t always mean hitting the gym for hours. In fact, if you’re just starting out on your weight loss journey, it’s important to start small. Get out and go for a walk each day. Even five or ten minutes of walking around the neighborhood will do you some good. Take the stairs too! Most of us spend the majority of our day sitting down or performing little to no physical activity, so simply get moving!
5). Find a Fitness Buddy. In the end, the hardest thing about starting your fitness journey is staying motivated, so find someone to go on the journey with you. There are plenty of us out there who promise to change each time the New Year rolls around, but most of us embark on that journey on our own. Find a friend who can keep you accountable and join you at the gym so that you don’t cop out and stay at home instead!
In the end, the New Year provides a great opportunity for many of us to start over. It’s a nice boost that can be used to actually move us forward into a healthier lifestyle. Don’t be afraid to work hard and get results, but don’t wait until next year to start over when you feel like you’ve fallen off the bandwagon. Pursuing a healthy lifestyle can start any day of the year.
